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.
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 1, 2026
This information was gathered from public sources. Ambrook is not responsible for or able to affect the results of any financial programs listed, nor are they responsible for any incorrect information that is listed or is on the hyperlinked external sites. All information is subject to change.
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