Programs Offered by the Sidney, Iowa Field Office
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Fremont County Soil and Water Conservation District, along with the employees of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship-Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality, and Farm
Service Agency administer many programs on a daily basis. Some are funded by the state government and some are funded by the federal government. Personnel in the Sidney Field Office will do their best to provide support for all these programs. |
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State of Iowa Programs
Financial Incentives Program - State Cost Share:
This is one of the most commonly known programs that the district has a big part in. Each fiscal year, the State of Iowa allocates funds to all 100 Soil and Water Conservation Districts through IDALS-DSCWQ. These funds are used by the District as cost-share on various projects, usually terraces in Fremont County. Cost-share rates are 50% for this program and funds are allocated on first come/first serve basis. Producers or landowners must sign up on the list at the Service Center. Once Fremont County SWCD receives enough funding to cover that person, the job will be engineered as needed and completed by the landowner. Fremont SWCD then reimburses the landowner once all the bills have been turned in. For more information, visit the IDALS Financial Incentives Bureau Cost-Share page
Contact Fremont SWCD for more information: (712) 374-2014
Click below to download the Cost Share Rules, the Cost Share Application Payment/Estimate Sheet, the Cost Share Rates, and the Contractor List.
This is one of the most commonly known programs that the district has a big part in. Each fiscal year, the State of Iowa allocates funds to all 100 Soil and Water Conservation Districts through IDALS-DSCWQ. These funds are used by the District as cost-share on various projects, usually terraces in Fremont County. Cost-share rates are 50% for this program and funds are allocated on first come/first serve basis. Producers or landowners must sign up on the list at the Service Center. Once Fremont County SWCD receives enough funding to cover that person, the job will be engineered as needed and completed by the landowner. Fremont SWCD then reimburses the landowner once all the bills have been turned in. For more information, visit the IDALS Financial Incentives Bureau Cost-Share page
Contact Fremont SWCD for more information: (712) 374-2014
Click below to download the Cost Share Rules, the Cost Share Application Payment/Estimate Sheet, the Cost Share Rates, and the Contractor List.
| fremont_swcd_products_and_construction_providers_5.31.19.pdf |
| 2015_cost_share_rules_05.2015.pdf |
| farms_app_and_request_letter.pdf |
| fy2015_state_cost_share_rates.pdf |
No Interest Loan
The 1983 State Legislature established the conservation practices revolving loan fund to provide loans to eligible landowners at no interest for the construction of permanent soil conservation practices. Authorized in Iowa Code Section 161A.71, eligible landowners may borrow up to $20,000 for a 10-year period. Repayment is made in 10 annual payments equal to 10% of the initial loan amount. In the event of land ownership transfer, payment is due immediately.
The Revolving Loan Fund is an alternative to the traditional cost share programs. It allows a landowner to put a conservation practice on the ground today, with payments extended out over a ten year period. For some landowners, it also provides tax advantages.
Fund allocations are made to soil and water conservation districts, commissioners set priorities for their use, and field office
staff assure the technical quality of practices built. These practices are also subject to maintenance agreements. Unlike the cost share program, management practices are not authorized.
The 1983 State Legislature established the conservation practices revolving loan fund to provide loans to eligible landowners at no interest for the construction of permanent soil conservation practices. Authorized in Iowa Code Section 161A.71, eligible landowners may borrow up to $20,000 for a 10-year period. Repayment is made in 10 annual payments equal to 10% of the initial loan amount. In the event of land ownership transfer, payment is due immediately.
The Revolving Loan Fund is an alternative to the traditional cost share programs. It allows a landowner to put a conservation practice on the ground today, with payments extended out over a ten year period. For some landowners, it also provides tax advantages.
Fund allocations are made to soil and water conservation districts, commissioners set priorities for their use, and field office
staff assure the technical quality of practices built. These practices are also subject to maintenance agreements. Unlike the cost share program, management practices are not authorized.
Local Water Protection Program (LWPP):
This program is a source of low-cost financing available to landowners. This opportunity is available specifically to assist and encourage landowners to address non-point source pollution. LWPP will offer three percent loans for water quality
projects in an effort to reduce the amount of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides negatively impacting local streams and
lakes.
Landowners can use the low interest loan to cover up to 100 percent of their costs – up to $50,000 – associated with water quality protection projects such as terraces, waste storage structures, water and sediment control basins, pasture and hay land planting, and grade stabilization structures.
The LWPP is a revolving loan fund that can provide $3 million in loans each year. A linked deposit loan structure enables
landowners to work with their personal lenders. Lenders participating with the program agree to provide loans at no more than three percent with terms up to ten years. It is up to your Soil and Water Conservation District to approve your project, and it’s up to your lender to qualify you for financing.
Applications are accepted year round. For further program details contact:
This program is a source of low-cost financing available to landowners. This opportunity is available specifically to assist and encourage landowners to address non-point source pollution. LWPP will offer three percent loans for water quality
projects in an effort to reduce the amount of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides negatively impacting local streams and
lakes.
Landowners can use the low interest loan to cover up to 100 percent of their costs – up to $50,000 – associated with water quality protection projects such as terraces, waste storage structures, water and sediment control basins, pasture and hay land planting, and grade stabilization structures.
The LWPP is a revolving loan fund that can provide $3 million in loans each year. A linked deposit loan structure enables
landowners to work with their personal lenders. Lenders participating with the program agree to provide loans at no more than three percent with terms up to ten years. It is up to your Soil and Water Conservation District to approve your project, and it’s up to your lender to qualify you for financing.
Applications are accepted year round. For further program details contact:
- Fremont Soil and Water Conservation District (712)374-2014
- Tony Toigo, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (515)281-6148 tony.toigo@idals.state.ia.us
Resource Enhancement and Protection Program (REAP):
This Iowa-based, multi-departmental program is administered through both the Iowa DNR and IDALS-DSC. Funds from this program are used for Timber Stand Improvements (TSI), installation of windbreaks, seeding of conservation cover, and other resource concerns. There are several good contacts for the REAP practice within Fremont County; contact Brian Gross or District Forester Lindsey Barney for more information.
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This Iowa-based, multi-departmental program is administered through both the Iowa DNR and IDALS-DSC. Funds from this program are used for Timber Stand Improvements (TSI), installation of windbreaks, seeding of conservation cover, and other resource concerns. There are several good contacts for the REAP practice within Fremont County; contact Brian Gross or District Forester Lindsey Barney for more information.
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- Brian Gross: (712) 374-2014 ext. 300, brian.gross@ia.usda.gov
- Lindsey Barney: (712) 482-624 lindsey.barney@dnr.iowa.gov
Federal Programs
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP):
CRP is one of the most well know programs that USDA offers to landowners as an option to cropping. The Farm Service Agency administers the program, and NRCS offers technical assistance to the FSA and producers. Landowners may install filter strips and riparian buffers, waterways, contour buffer strips, shallow water areas for wildlife, farmable wetlands, and windbreaks under the continuous program in CRP. There are no sign-up periods for the practices, and most practices pay not only the base 50% cost share, but also a 40% practice incentive payment (PIP), paying 90% of the cost of installing the practice. Some of these practices also offer a one-time, sign-up payment (SIP) of $10/acre/year for 10 or 15 year contracts and 120% of the rental rate each year.
General Sign-up CRP offers the same practices as Continuous, but landowners may also enroll entire fields or farms if the land is Highly Erodible or has wetland soils. These offers are accepted through a specific sign-up period, and must pass through a bidding process.
CRP is one of the most well know programs that USDA offers to landowners as an option to cropping. The Farm Service Agency administers the program, and NRCS offers technical assistance to the FSA and producers. Landowners may install filter strips and riparian buffers, waterways, contour buffer strips, shallow water areas for wildlife, farmable wetlands, and windbreaks under the continuous program in CRP. There are no sign-up periods for the practices, and most practices pay not only the base 50% cost share, but also a 40% practice incentive payment (PIP), paying 90% of the cost of installing the practice. Some of these practices also offer a one-time, sign-up payment (SIP) of $10/acre/year for 10 or 15 year contracts and 120% of the rental rate each year.
General Sign-up CRP offers the same practices as Continuous, but landowners may also enroll entire fields or farms if the land is Highly Erodible or has wetland soils. These offers are accepted through a specific sign-up period, and must pass through a bidding process.
- Cindy Bebout: FSA County Executive Officer, (712) 374-2691 ext. 200, Cindy.Bebout@ia.usda.gov
- Brian Gross: District Conservationist, (712) 374-2014 ext. 300, brian.gross@ia.usda.gov
Conservation Security Program (CSP):
The CSP is a voluntary conservation program that rewards farmers for ongoing stewardship of private agricultural lands. The CSP sign-up is offered in selected priority watersheds annually across the Nation. Payments are determined by the tier of participation.
The CSP is a voluntary conservation program that rewards farmers for ongoing stewardship of private agricultural lands. The CSP sign-up is offered in selected priority watersheds annually across the Nation. Payments are determined by the tier of participation.
- Brian Gross: District Conservationist, (712) 374-2014 ext. 300, brian.gross@ia.usda.gov
- Marvin Freed: Soil Conservationist, (712) 374-2014, ext. 302, marvin.freed@usda.gov
Emergency Watershed Program-Floodplain Program (EWP-FP):
This program is nearly the same as the Wetland Reserve Program, but focuses on a different resource concern: flooding. Since 1998, NRCS has spent millions of dollars to purchase easements for restoring the "reaches and flows" of floodplains within Iowa and other states. In Fremont County, we received 20 easements from 1999 to 2001 to help reduce the impacts of flooding on the Nishnabotna and Missouri Rivers. Much of our emphasis for the program is in restoring native vegetation to the floodplain, but we also try to move water into our easements during flood events where possible. That water is then retained for wildlife habitat, and excess water is allowed back into the river once the flooding has subsided.
If a farm has been flooded more than three times within the past 10 years, it is eligible for the EWP-FP program. Of course, the more damage to crops and land in the past 10 years, the higher the rank. Like the WRP program, landowners retain ownership of the land, but they have no rights to harvest any type of crop off the land.
This program is nearly the same as the Wetland Reserve Program, but focuses on a different resource concern: flooding. Since 1998, NRCS has spent millions of dollars to purchase easements for restoring the "reaches and flows" of floodplains within Iowa and other states. In Fremont County, we received 20 easements from 1999 to 2001 to help reduce the impacts of flooding on the Nishnabotna and Missouri Rivers. Much of our emphasis for the program is in restoring native vegetation to the floodplain, but we also try to move water into our easements during flood events where possible. That water is then retained for wildlife habitat, and excess water is allowed back into the river once the flooding has subsided.
If a farm has been flooded more than three times within the past 10 years, it is eligible for the EWP-FP program. Of course, the more damage to crops and land in the past 10 years, the higher the rank. Like the WRP program, landowners retain ownership of the land, but they have no rights to harvest any type of crop off the land.
- Brian Gross: District Conservationist, (712) 374-2014 ext. 300, brian.gross@ia.usda.gov
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP):
EQIP is a program that has become one of the fundamental tools for the conservation. The Sidney Field Office has been using the program to create terraces and work with cattle operations for the past few years. Now, the emphasis that Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has put on EQIP is more of a "whole-farm" approach. Instead of doing one practice, such as terraces, the staff is now looking to improve the sustainability of the farm on the whole. If waterways are needed as well as terraces, then we work with the landowner and operator to install those practices with cost-share.
The same is true for cattle operations. The NRCS can help with installing wells and pasture management, but we also look at creating a paddock system for rotational grazing if it is feasible. New interior fences are a practice that can be cost-shared, so the landowner is able to improve his farm's sustainability for half the cost. NRCS also provides financial and technical assistance for livestock producers interested in building a hoop building or monoslope building.
EQIP is a program that has become one of the fundamental tools for the conservation. The Sidney Field Office has been using the program to create terraces and work with cattle operations for the past few years. Now, the emphasis that Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has put on EQIP is more of a "whole-farm" approach. Instead of doing one practice, such as terraces, the staff is now looking to improve the sustainability of the farm on the whole. If waterways are needed as well as terraces, then we work with the landowner and operator to install those practices with cost-share.
The same is true for cattle operations. The NRCS can help with installing wells and pasture management, but we also look at creating a paddock system for rotational grazing if it is feasible. New interior fences are a practice that can be cost-shared, so the landowner is able to improve his farm's sustainability for half the cost. NRCS also provides financial and technical assistance for livestock producers interested in building a hoop building or monoslope building.
- Field Office: (712) 374-2014
- Brian Gross: brian.gross@ia.usda.gov
- Marvin Freed: marvin.freed@ia.usda.gov
Wetland/Floodplain Easement Programs (WRP and EWP-FP):
Fremont County, with their Two Rivers Project, has become one of the leaders in the wetland and floodplain easement programs that USDA offers. Many of the easements are near the Riverton Wildlife Management Area or located on the Missouri River Valley on both sides of Highway 2 (Nebraska City).
Acceptance into either of these programs is highly competitive, as the state has a backlog for WRP, and EWP-FP. Ranking sheets are filled out at the time of application and the farm is added to the WRP or EWP-FP list according to that rank. Rankings depend on easement size; proximity to protected land, whether it be state or federally owned, or covered by an easement; as well as other factors.
Fremont County, with their Two Rivers Project, has become one of the leaders in the wetland and floodplain easement programs that USDA offers. Many of the easements are near the Riverton Wildlife Management Area or located on the Missouri River Valley on both sides of Highway 2 (Nebraska City).
Acceptance into either of these programs is highly competitive, as the state has a backlog for WRP, and EWP-FP. Ranking sheets are filled out at the time of application and the farm is added to the WRP or EWP-FP list according to that rank. Rankings depend on easement size; proximity to protected land, whether it be state or federally owned, or covered by an easement; as well as other factors.
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP):
This program is a voluntary program that offers landowners the means and the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands. The NRCS goal is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the program.
A farm or part of a farm is eligible for WRP when hydric (wetland) soils are present, or if at least half of the farm is too wet to farm much of the time. Most of the area must be in crop, but waste land and timber may be included. Once the easement is filed, the landowner retains control of the title, but no farming, grazing, or timber harvesting may be done
within the easement boundary.
This program is a voluntary program that offers landowners the means and the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands. The NRCS goal is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the program.
A farm or part of a farm is eligible for WRP when hydric (wetland) soils are present, or if at least half of the farm is too wet to farm much of the time. Most of the area must be in crop, but waste land and timber may be included. Once the easement is filed, the landowner retains control of the title, but no farming, grazing, or timber harvesting may be done
within the easement boundary.
- Brian Gross: District Conservationist, (712) 374-2014 ext. 300, brian.gross@ia.usda.gov