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.

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.

Farmers are balancing a lot—from rising input costs and labor shortages to increasing weather variability. Minimizing tillage not only benefits the soil and the environment but also brings economic advantages that can contribute to a farm's profitability.

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.

Meet Jake Stricklin, a farmer enrolled in the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund from northern Illinois. Learn how this young, innovative leader in agriculture is utilizing knowledge and support from several partnering organizations to improve his operation's bottom line through reduced tillage and cover crop implementation.

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.

Meet the Allyn Family, farmers enrolled in the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund from southern Indiana. Their family has been farming for over 100 years. Last year they enrolled with SWOF to help with erosion by reducing their tillage and experimenting with cover crops.

The concept of additionality is frequently utilized to best measure the effectiveness of agricultural conservation initiatives and their environmental impact. The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund considers additionality on a field-by-field basis to help farmers both begin and expand their efforts.

Katie Nelson grew up on a diverse farm in northwest North Dakota and joined the SWOF team in October of 2023. We invite you to learn more about Katie and how she leverages her expertise in crop science and plant pathology to guide farmers in sustainable practices through her work at SWOF.