Soil Health

Red Lake County SWCD Cover Crop Cost-Share Program

Red Lake County SWCD is starting a new Cover Crop Cost-Share Program in 2019. The District has developed a Cover Crop Cost-Share Program Policy (see below). The District also submitted a Nonstructural Land Management Practice Implementation Plan (see below) to the Board of Water & Soil Resources, which was approved.

The Red Lake County SWCD Cover Crop Cost-Share Program was created to provide funds for individuals that are interested in using cover crops in their farming operation, and to promote the long-term adoption of cover crops in the farming operation. The purpose of this policy is to provide clear guidelines for the implementation of funds appropriated to Red Lake County SWCD associated with local capacity services grant.

Funds are allocated to Red Lake County SWCD by BWSR from the SWCD local capacity grant. The Red Lake County SWCD board sets, through a work plan approved by the BWSR Board Conservationist, the amount from the SWCD local capacity grant that is used for the Cover Crop Cost-Share Program.

The Red Lake County SWCD Board has established the maximum rate to a land occupier for installation of the cover crop practice is: $30 for a single species Cover Crop i.e. Cereal rye or oats, $80 for a multiple species Cover Crop which means it must include one grass and one broad leaf species, or $100 for a multiple species Cover Crop with reduced tillage; which is defined as including at least one grass and one broad leaf species, following an annual crop with a minimum of 50% residue left after seeding of the cover crop. These rates are a per acre payment.

The Red Lake County SWCD Board has established the maximum number of acres for a project applicant is 80 acres. The 80 acres may be subdivided into different tracts, but these tracts may not be smaller than 5 acres in size. The Red Lake County SWCD Board has established the minimum number of acres for a land occupier is 5 acres. The maximum number of contracts per land occupier is 5.

For further information, please read through the Red Lake County SWCD Cover Crop Cost-Share Program Policy in its entirety or contact our office at (218) 253-2593 for more details.