Cost-Share Program Enrollment
Please indicate which program(s) you would like to enroll in and the number of acres/samples you anticipate enrolling. Receipts or other appropriate documentation are required for all programs, as is completion of the SRPF Conservation Practice Survey.
SRPF's cost share program is intended to be a learning opportunity for members, so we ask that members be willing to share lessons learned from trying a new practice with the group.
Maximum payout of $1,500 plus $500 bonus if participating in 3 or more programs. Final cost-share payments are dependent on available funds and will be distributed at the end of the year.
If you are not a SRPF member, fill out the membership form and pay membership dues. A SRPF representative will follow up with you to gather planting/testing information for the groups records.
All data collected will remain confidential.
The following cost-share programs are available to SRPF members:
1. Cover Crops – 75% of total costs if left until spring. Bin-run-crop without a receipt will pay market price. Maximum of $40/acre, $1,500/farm.
2. No-till/Reduced Tillage – $20/acre up to 50 acres, increases in 2nd and 3rd year. Maximum of $2500/farm.
3. Planting Green – Spring planting into a living cover crop. Farmers can collect cost share on cover crop in the fall, then collect an extra $20 for planting green into the cover crop the following spring. Maximum of 50 acres, $1,000/farm. Not to be combined with no-till or reduced-till program.
4. Split Nitrogen Application – For farmers not currently applying split nitrogen, eligible to enroll in this program once. $10/acre, maximum of $1000/farm.
5. Soil Testing – For farmers who have not soil tested within the past 5 years/farm, not field. Farm is eligible to enroll in this program once. Up to $4/acre, max $1,000/farm.
6. Manure and/or Tissue Testing – Up to $200 per farm, each test.
7. Equipment Upgrades – Add-on or update to existing equipment. Must be signed up for another cost-share program. 20% of total costs or $1,500/farm.
8. Crop Diversity - Growing Season Cover Crop Interseeding Program – May include legume, grass, multiple species, beans planted into corn. Up to $40/acre, max $1,500/farm.
9. Encapsulated/Stabilizer Nitrogen/Phosphorus Application – Farmers not currently applying encapsulated nitrogen and phosphorus are eligible to enroll in this program once. $5/acre, max 100 acres, max $500/farm
To qualify for the cost-share program, complete the following steps:
1 - Complete the Cost-Share Enrollment form and return by Nov. 15
2 - Pay SRPF annual membership dues — see Membership page
3 - Complete the Member Conservation Practice Survey found on Membership page
4 - Submit receipts with the cost-share program application
Final cost-share payments are dependent on available funds and will be distributed at the annual meeting next year.
SRPF Cost-Share Program Detailed Information
Goal – To research and promote on farm conservation practices that are beneficial for soil and water quality and overall farm sustainability. Also, to reduce economic risk associated with trying a new conservation practice.
Cover Crops
Cover crops have many on farm benefits including reducing soil erosion, nutrient losses and improving soil health. Producers interested in planting cover crops may be reimbursed for 75% of the cost of cover crop seed, planting and spring herbicide application (if applicable), up to $40 per acre with a maximum of $1500 per farm. Receipts are required for this program. Handwritten receipts are okay if providing your own seed or purchasing from a neighbor, for example.
Producers may select the cover crop seed and seeding method of their choice. Cover crops should ideally be planted by Oct.15 if possible and maintained until the following spring. Harvesting the cover crop as forage is admissible.
No-Till/Reduced Tillage
This project is targeted for producers who are open minded about trying no till, vertical till and strip till rotations for multiple years to determine if our soil health can be improved without reducing our yields. Interested producers should identify an area, up to 50 acres, and plan a three-year rotation using reduced tillage or no till. The area chosen will be the same area used for up to three years on this project. Participating producers are eligible for $20 per acre for the first year, $25 per acre on the second year and $30 per acre on the third year.
Program participants are encouraged to keep yield records, field notes, and share the results with the SRPF. Producers are also encouraged to complete a soil health test at the beginning of each crop year to track changes in soil health over the course of the trial. A limited amount of funding is available for this program, so priority will be given to no till applications over vertical or strip till. The producer may quit at any time.
Planting Green
Planting green refers to planting of primary crops into actively growing cover crops in the spring. This practice can be used when planting a grain crop such as corn or soybeans into a cover crop. Producers can collect cost share on cover crops in the fall, then collect an extra $20 for planting green into the cover crop the following spring.
Maximum of 50 acres up to $1,000/farm. Not to be combined with no-till or reduced-till programs.
Soil Testing
A suite of soil testing options are available through local ag retailers and results can be useful in making informed management decisions. To allow producers the flexibility to acquire soil test data that is of greatest interest to them, the SRPF will reimburse up to $18 per soil test with a cap of $1000 per farm. Receipts and documentation of soil tests are required to receive reimbursement.
Tissue Testing
Tissue sampling can be a good way to assess crop nutrient needs and deficiencies during the growing season in order to make in season nutrient application adjustments. The SRPF will reimburse plant tissue sampling up to $200 per farm. Receipts and documentation of soil tests are required to receive reimbursement.
Split Nitrogen Application
Applying nitrogen fertilizer at reduced rates several times during the growing season, rather than all at once, will help ensure plants have the nutrients they need to prosper when they need them most. Splitting up fertilizer applications can also mean fertilizer savings, as less fertilizer is being applied and therefore lost, when there is no growing crop to take it up. The split nitrogen application cost share program will help cover the cost of split fertilizer applications at a rate of $10 per acre up to $1000 acres per farm.
Manure Testing
Manure is a valuable component of a livestock operations crop fertility regime. Therefore, understanding the nutrient composition of the manure on your farm is essential to accurate and responsible nutrient management planning. Not all manure is created equal after all. SRPF will reimburse manure sampling up to $200 per farm. Receipts and documentation of soil tests are required to receive reimbursement.
Crop Diversity - Growing Season Cover Crop Interseeding Program
Producers interested in interseeding a 'growing season cover crop' in the summer. The goal is to plant more diverse species mix into a main crop. This may include legume, grass, multiple species, beans planted into corn. This program will help cover the cost at a rate of $40/acre up to max $1,500/farm.
Encapsulated/Stabilizer Nitrogen/Phosphorus Application:
This program is for producers not currently applying encapsulated nitrogen and/or phosphorus. Producers would be eligible to enroll in this program once. The encapsulated nitrogen/phosphorus cost share program will help cover the cost of encapsulated nitrogen/phosphorus application at a rate of $5/acre, max 100 acres, max $500/farm.
For more information on the programs listed above, contact srpfarmers17@gmail.com OR speak with your local SRPF member.
