Carbon plays a vital role in agriculture, influencing everything from soil water infiltration to plant growth. Learn how conservation practices like reduced tillage and cover crops can sequester carbon in the soil to improve soil health, increase yields, and support a more resilient farm.

Minnesota farmer Jacob Faugstad shares how strip-tillage and cover crops are helping him tackle erosion from both water and wind while improving soil health and farm efficiency. Learn how the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund is supporting his conservation efforts with financial incentives and agronomic support.

Planting green—seeding cash crops into a living cover crop—is gaining traction as a way to improve soil health, suppress weeds, and enhance crop resilience. Learn key considerations for soil moisture, termination timing, nutrient management, and planter setup to ensure success.

Successful cover crop management requires careful planning—and the ability to adapt. Learn how small adjustments in herbicide application and adjuvant selection can impact termination success. Discover lessons from the field and best practices for adapting to environmental conditions.

With firsthand experience on the family farm, SWOF’s Clayton Sessions has a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards of soil and water stewardship. Learn more about Clayton and how he works with farmers to navigate practice changes in a financially sustainable way.

A year after our first spotlight, we’re checking back in with Lillie Beringer—Iowa’s most recent Conservation Woman of the Year—to see how her commitment to no-till farming, cover crops, and sustainable cattle grazing continues to transform her operation. Read more about her journey!

Optimize soil health, maximize crop yields, and reduce costs with a well-designed nutrient management plan. Learn how to get started with soil sampling and create your plan to maximize the economic return of nutrient resources while reducing runoff into waterways.

Maintaining well-organized records at the field level is required of SWOF participants to ensure contract compliance and help in the event of an audit or request for proof of practice implementation. Find data management options and tips here.

Field visits are a crucial part of the MRV process at the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF). Learn how our verification process ensures compliance and accuracy while supporting farmers in implementing conservation practices.

Learn how to engage your landlord in conservation practices that boost long-term land productivity. Discover tips for building a shared plan and the benefits of programs like the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF).

Meet Jeremy Chandler, a third-generation farmer enrolled with the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund from the Red River Valley in Minnesota. With cover crops and reduced tillage, he's successfully fighting wind erosion, especially for his sugar beet crop, and protecting the bottom line of his family's operation.

Explore 12 cover crops being grown by SWOF farmers to enhance soil health and reduce erosion, while improving farm profitability and sustainability. Learn how these crops can benefit your operation.