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Conservation practices can do more than improve soil health; they can also improve your operation's profitability.

The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF) helps farmers earn additional income by rewarding conservation practices that improve water quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Whether you're implementing new practices or already using conservation methods, the program is designed to provide financial support while helping you build a more sustainable operation.

Since 2019, SWOF has enrolled more than 1.5 million acres and paid nearly $50 million to participating farmers.

Earn More with Conservation

The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund supports growers who implement conservation practices such as:

  • Reduced tillage or no-till
  • Cover crops
  • Extended crop rotations
  • And more

Already using these practices? You may still qualify. There are no acreage minimums or maximums, allowing the program to fit operations of all sizes.

Each operation is different, which is why the SWOF team works directly with farmers to evaluate their goals and identify opportunities that fit their management practices.

Simple, Transparent Contracts

The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund is built around a straightforward enrollment process.

Program benefits include:

  • One-year farm contracts with the opportunity to re-enroll in future years
  • Payment offers provided before signing a contract
  • Payments made in two installments, with 25% paid prior to verification
  • No cost to the farmer for verification
  • Final payment guaranteed as long as contract requirements are met

This transparent approach allows growers to understand exactly what to expect before enrolling.

Developed for Farmers

Managed by AgOutcomes, a subsidiary of the Iowa Soybean Association, the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund was developed with farmers in mind.

The program brings together public and private partners, including USDA, Cargill, PepsiCo, and others, to reward conservation practices that deliver measurable environmental outcomes while supporting farm profitability.

Get Started Today

If you're interested in learning how conservation practices can improve both your bottom line and your operation's sustainability, now is a great time to explore the Soil and Water Outcomes Reach out to Jeff Koops or Josh Plueger to learn more!

Learn How SWOF Fits into Your Current Conservation and Carbon Programs

Cover Crop Stckability Chart

How to use the chart:

1. Like when you play Battleship, follow a program from the left axis to where it meets another program on the top axis. The cell will tell you if the two programs are compatible.

2. The chart reflects stackability of incentives for cover crops. Using a program for cover crops does not exclude you from using it again but for a different practice like no-till or prairie.

3. The chart reflects stackability of incentives on the same acres.

4. Always call to confirm. Enrolling in two incompatible programs could lead to having to return funding!

REQUIREMENTS FARMERS FOR SOIL HEALTH
(AMP)
SOIL AND WATER OUTCOMES FUND (CARBON + AMP) RCPP/ EQIP
(USDA)
PFI
(CARBON + AMP)
WQI
(STATE)
GREATER DSM WATERSHED PROGRAM WQI
(STATE)
STATE CROP INSURANCE
(IDALS)
IFIP
(IDALS)
DUCKS UNLIMITED
(AMP)
FARMERS FOR SOIL HEALTH
(AMP)
for acres planted with a cover crop regardless of prior cover crop history. Annual contract YES NO MAYBE
CONTACT PFI TO CONFIRM
YES YES YES NO NO
SOIL AND WATER OUTCOMES FUND
(CARBON + AMP)
must begin or expand on-farm conservation practice - adding cover crop per rotation, or no-till, strip-till or reduced till. Annual contract MAYBE
CONTACT BOTH PROGRAMS TO CONFIRM
MAYBE
CONTACT SWOF TO CONFIRM
NO MAYBE
CONTACT SWOF TO CONFIRM
MAYBE
CONTACT SWOF TO CONFIRM
MAYBE
CONTACT SWOF TO CONFIRM
MAYBE
CONTACT SWOF TO CONFIRM
MAYBE
CONTACT SWOF TO CONFIRM
RCPP/ EQIP
(USDA)
NO MAYBE MAYBE
CONTACT PFI TO CONFIRM
NO NO NO NO NO
PFI
(CARBON + AMP)
$15/ac, can be stacked with publicly funded programs. Can't be used if grain is fed to livestock on your farm. MAYBE
CONTACT PFI TO CONFIRM
NO MAYBE
CONTACT PFI TO CONFIRM
YES YES YES MAYBE
CONTACT PFI TO CONFIRM
MAYBE
CONTACT PFI TO CONFIRM
WQI
(STATE)
YES MAYBE
CONTACT SWOF TO CONFIRM
NO YES NO NO NO YES
GREATER DSM WATERSHED PROGRAM WQI
(STATE)
YES MAYBE
CONTACT SWOF TO CONFIRM
NO YES NO NO NO YES
STATE CROP INSURANCE
(IDALS)
no cap on acres, can't be stacked with NRCS/IDALS programs YES MAYBE
CONTACT SWOF TO CONFIRM
NO YES NO NO NO YES
IFIP
(IDALS)
NO MAYBE
CONTACT SWOF TO CONFIRM
NO MAYBE
CONTACT PFI TO CONFIRM
NO NO NO NO
DUCKS UNLIMITED
(AMP)
NO MAYBE
CONTACT SWOF TO CONFIRM
NO MAYBE
CONTACT PFI TO CONFIRM
YES YES YES NO