The Farmer-Led Fund for Watershed Improvement provides grants to farmer-led groups (not individual farmers) to design and deliver local conservation incentives, technical assistance, and events for their members. A recent cycle awarded roughly $680,000 across nine Wisconsin farmer-led groups. The fund is supported by a $13.8 million USDA NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) award to Sand County Foundation. Participating groups use the funding to promote practices such as cover crops, pasture reseeding, invasive-species removal, reduced tillage, and biochar. Benefit to individual producers is indirect, delivered through their local group.
Eligibility
Farmer-led conservation groups and organizations operating in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. Applicants are groups, not individual farmers.
Details
Organization
Financial Instrument
Grant
Terms
Grants to farmer-led groups; a recent cycle awarded ~$680,000 across nine Wisconsin groups. Funded through a $13.8M USDA NRCS RCPP award. Award amounts to a single group are not individually published.
Application Instructions
Apply through Sand County Foundation. See the program announcement for details on funded groups and award cycles.
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Updated September 4, 2026
Image Credit: Alexander Grey
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