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!

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.

With a background in conservation and farming, Amanda brings valuable insight and passion to her role. We invite you to learn more about her and how she leverages this expertise to guide farmers to implement sustainable practices with ROI in mind.

Meet John Sorenson, a fifth-generation Minnesota farmer. To combat harsh winds threatening his sugar beets, John joined the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund to implement a rye cover crop and reduce his tillage. These changes have protected his crops and produced savings in fuel and labor costs.

Ensuring good water quality is essential for sustainable farming, environmental health, and food security. Learn about our water sampling process, conservation efforts, and the impact of reducing nitrogen and phosphorus runoff to protect ecosystems and support sustainable farming.

Peyton grew up on a small hog farm in southwest Ohio and developed a deep connection to agriculture from an early age. His years of hands-on experience and academic background in soil science make him a wonderful resource on the SWOF team.

Water is a critical resource, and managing it efficiently is essential to ensure sustainability and productivity in agriculture. Gain more confidence in managing this vital resource as we review the key principles of efficient irrigation practices, as well as the role conservation measures and soil health play in water management.