Cost Share Hub

Taking steps to improve your farm doesn’t have to be risky or costly.

Sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. There are millions of cost share dollars in Iowa to help you make positive changes for you and your community.

  • Are you losing valuable soil to erosion?
  • Do you have areas of the farm that pond or get low yields?
  • Are you interested in free edge-of-field solutions that help downstream neighbors?

Cost share can help.

Cost Share combines sustainability and profitability

Where to start? Cost Share 101

f you’ve done any research on cost share, you’ve probably found yourself drowning in an alphabet soup of acronyms and a sea of program information. But it doesn’t have to be complicated! If you’re new to cost share, check out our cost share 101 guide, which walks you through common programs, acronyms, and what to expect.

Cost share 101

Cover Crops: Learn How To Get $100+ Per Acre

Farmers asked for it. We delivered. Costsharecompare.com is our most popular resource for finding cover crop cost share programs. You can filter programs by your personal needs, not generic options and compare your top options. We even show you how to stack multiple programs for maximum benefit. Not sure if you’re ready for cover crops yet? Check out our cover crop resource page.

Costsharecompare.com

Private Funding: Carbon Markets 101 & Other Ecosystem Services Markets

Everybody’s talking about carbon – how to sequester it, how to buy it, and how to sell it. Why are we interested? On-farm practices that promote carbon sequestration often improve water quality, too. Carbon markets are a source of private funding to pay farmers. There are a lot of options and they’re not equal. We put together resources to help you make decisions that we personally trust and use.

Learn More about Carbon Markets

Prairie: Get Rewarded For Reducing Unprofitable Acres

Whether you want a small prairie strip or a full field of native grasses, there are cost share options to cover the expenses of planting prairie. Our team of communications professionals and agronomists sifted through program paperwork and met with prairie experts to break down the best programs to consider. Download our free guide to compare them. It updates annually! 

cost share guide coming soon
learn about prairie

Wetlands: How To Navigate Funding Options

Wetlands can replace unprofitable acres, provide wildlife habitat, and add scenery to your farm. Cost share for wetlands isn’t as straightforward as cover crops… But the good news is that most wetlands can be 100% covered by cost share if you work with a watershed professional. IAWA has put together helpful information on which programs to inquire about, what questions to ask before you sign a contract, and what to expect.

cost share guide coming soon
learn about wetlands

Buzzword Breakdown: Carbon Intensity

Carbon intensity and sustainable jet fuel has been a hotly debated topic in Congress as a way to compensate farmers for sustainable farming. Our partners at Iowa Corn, put together a great FAQ about what carbon intensity is and why you should care.

Learn More