Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI)

Apply online at https://forms.practicalfarmers.org/t/xBuDFev3BQus. Enrollment period is Aug. 24, 2026 through April 30, 2027 or until allotted acres are filled. After enrolling, sign a cost-share agreement within 30 days; those in the nitrogen-reduction option must also schedule a conversation with a PFI agronomist by May 28, 2027. Payments are processed after wrap-up survey and documentation are submitted by Sept. 30, 2027, with all payments completed by Dec. 31, 2027.

Practical Farmers of Iowa — Farm Programs

Practical Farmers of Iowa supports farmers using&#x2004;extended crop rotations by providing cost-share for two extended-rotation practices: (1) reducing applied nitrogen on 2027 corn that follows a small grain plus cover crop or a leguminous hay crop, by 40 lbs N/acre or to no more than 100 lbs N/acre applied; and (2) raising a small grain (oats, cereal rye, barley, wheat or triticale) harvested for grain or forage in 2027, followed by a frost- or summer-seeded cover crop containing at least one legume. Participants receive $20 per acre by completing one or both scenarios, with no acre cap (program closes once allotted acres fill).



Practical Farmers of Iowa supports farmers using extended crop rotations by providing cost-share for two extended-rotation practices: (1) reducing applied nitrogen on 2027 corn that follows a small grain plus cover crop or a leguminous hay crop, by 40 lbs N/acre or to no more than 100 lbs N/acre applied; and (2) raising a small grain (oats, cereal rye, barley, wheat or triticale) harvested for grain or forage in 2027, followed by a frost- or summer-seeded cover crop containing at least one legume. Participants receive $20 per acre by completing one or both scenarios, with no acre cap (program closes once allotted acres fill).

- Participants must farm in Iowa or in eligible counties in Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska or South Dakota.
- No PFI membership purchase required.
- Conventional and organic-transition acres are eligible; organic-certified acres are ineligible.
- No acre cap; enroll ASAP as the program closes once allotted acres are filled.
- Acres can overlap with publicly funded cost-share programs (EQIP, CSP, etc.).
- Acres cannot overlap with PFI's fall cover crop cost-share or N Rate Risk Protection Program in 2027, or with privately funded cost-share/carbon-market programs (Indigo, SWOF, TruCarb, ADM re:generations, etc.).

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

Reduced Tillage

Fertilizer

Waste & Manure Management

Weeds

Regenerative

Conservation

Carbon Capture

Participants receive $20 per acre for completing one or both program scenarios (nitrogen reduction on corn, or small-grain-plus-legume-cover-crop rotation). The contract is nonbinding and can be canceled through Sept. 30, 2027 with no penalty. Documentation required: seed tags/bills for small grain and legume cover, and (for the nitrogen option) an agronomist consultation.

Applications are currently closed; fill out the interest form at https://airtable.com/appQLtK9Bk9t4jK3a/pagZh9br0F0s6R8Zi/form to be notified when the next enrollment period opens (expected January 2027).

Ann Krause

Senior Field Crops Business Coordinator

Practical Farmers of Iowa — General

Since 2020, PFI and the Iowa Soybean Association have partnered to provide the Cover Crop Business Accelerator to new and established cover-crop seed and application businesses (custom seeding, seed cleaning, seed production) around the Midwest, currently limited to Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota businesses. As of the most recent report, 106 cover crop businesses across the Midwest have taken part, with over $650,000 invested in cover crop businesses. Funding made possible by Builders Initiative and the Walmart Foundation.



For farmers and entrepreneurs looking to open or grow a cover crop business (custom seeding, seed cleaning, seed production) who reside or do business in Iowa, Nebraska or Minnesota, and are willing to meet with a business growth consultant and engage in mentorship/networking.

Legal & Finance

Key benefits include: business growth consulting; agronomic support; capital investment cost-share (10% of equipment/business expenses, up to $5,000); custom-seeding incentive payments of $3 per acre, guaranteed up to $5,000; seed-production incentive payments of $20 per acre, guaranteed up to $2,000; and networking/educational events.

Apply through the program page at practicalfarmers.org — enrollment stays open until allotted acres fill. PFI staff support enrollment and practice questions.

Practical Farmers of Iowa's cover crop cost-share pays farmers up to $15 per acre for seeding fall cover crops, with no acre cap. The funding comes from food and agriculture&#x2004;companies investing in their supply sheds, so it works like supply-chain insetting delivered through a farmer-led nonprofit rather than a carbon-market contract: no credits, no registry, and light paperwork.


Enrollment is first-come — it closes once allotted acres are filled — and the program is one of the simplest entry points to paid regenerative practice adoption. PFI also maintains guidance on how this cost-share interacts with NRCS programs (EQIP, CSP, RCPP), state cost-share, and private carbon programs, making it a common first layer in a stacked conservation strategy.



Practical Farmers of Iowa's cover crop cost-share pays farmers up to $15 per acre for seeding fall cover crops, with no acre cap. The funding comes from food and agriculture companies investing in their supply sheds, so it works like supply-chain insetting delivered through a farmer-led nonprofit rather than a carbon-market contract: no credits, no registry, and light paperwork.

Enrollment is first-come — it closes once allotted acres are filled — and the program is one of the simplest entry points to paid regenerative practice adoption. PFI also maintains guidance on how this cost-share interacts with NRCS programs (EQIP, CSP, RCPP), state cost-share, and private carbon programs, making it a common first layer in a stacked conservation strategy.

- Seed a fall cover crop on eligible acres; receive up to $15 per acre with no acre cap.
- Enrollment closes once allotted acres are filled.
- PFI's program materials address stacking with NRCS programs (EQIP, CSP, RCPP), state cost-share (e.g. Iowa WQI/IDALS), carbon programs (e.g. Indigo, TruCarbon), ADM re:generations, Farmers for Soil Health, and Soil and Water Outcomes Fund — review their compatibility guidance for the current year's rules.

Cover Crop

Up to $15 per acre per year for fall-seeded cover crops, no acre cap, funded by corporate supply-chain partners through PFI. The rate a given farm receives can depend on what other cost-share the same acres already receive — PFI publishes stacking guidance covering federal, state, and private programs.

Applications for the 2027 grazing season will open in late fall or early winter 2026; interested farmers can sign up for PFI's email newsletter to be notified.

Margaret Chamas

Livestock Systems Manager

The grazing cost-share supports aspiring or existing graziers who wish to adopt regenerative grazing practices that improve forage, soil and water quality, and helps them expand their livestock enterprises through improved grazing management. Since PFI started offering this cost-share in 2022, it has distributed $271,000 to nearly 80 farmers, bringing 7,900 acres under improved grazing management (through the end of the 2024 grazing season).



- Aspiring or existing graziers who wish to adopt regenerative grazing practices.
- Farmers located in the Upper Midwest, roughly Iowa and surrounding states.
- No minimum acres or animals grazed, years of farming experience, or FSA registration is required.
- Past cost-share recipients and their family or farm partners may apply, though first-time recipients are generally prioritized.

No current-cycle payment rate, per-farm cap, or match requirement is published. The program page says only: "Get Notified! Applications for the 2027 grazing season will open in late fall or early winter 2026." For this cycle's terms, contact Margaret Chamas, Livestock Systems Manager, (515) 232-5661.

The only published dollar figures are historical, from PFI's own factsheet on the 2021 pilot round:
- "Eighteen farmers received up to $5,000 each to purchase portable, temporary grazing infrastructure such as electric fence, fence chargers and portable water tanks."
- Cumulative program impact through the end of the 2024 grazing season: "$271,000 / Distributed to nearly 80 farmers" and "7,900 / Acres under improved grazing management."

Treat the $5,000 as a past-round figure, not a promise for 2027.

Why this cost-share exists at all is worth knowing before you apply elsewhere: portable infrastructure is the gap federal programs leave. PFI notes that EQIP "requires that equipment bought with EQIP dollars be linked to a single land unit. Because fencing and watering tools used in regenerative grazing systems might get moved across land parcels, it's often ineligible for EQIP funding."

Enroll by April 30, 2027 via https://practicalfarmers.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5ySWYYDIOF9WFnM. After enrolling, talk with a PFI agronomist, sign an agreement and FSA release of information by May 31, 2027, apply the reduced nitrogen, attend a soil-health learning event, and complete a wrap-up survey/field questionnaire by Dec. 10, 2027. Payments are processed by April 30, 2028.

Chelsea Ferrie

Crop Nutrition Systems Manager

The N Rate Risk Protection Program helps corn farmers find their optimal, economical nitrogen rate. Participants receive $5 per acre for every enrolled acre with a reduced-nitrogen plan; if yield drops below 95% of the farm's ten-year average after lowering nitrogen, an additional $30 per acre warranty payment is issued (up to $35/acre total). Participants also receive a complimentary one-year PFI membership.



- Farm in eligible counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota or Wisconsin.
- Willing to reduce nitrogen application by at least 20 lbs N/acre (smaller/already-reduced rates may still qualify).
- Acres must be conventionally managed; certified organic acres are not eligible.
- Acres cannot overlap with any privately funded cost-share/carbon program (Indigo, SWOF, TruCarbon, PivotBio N-OVATOR, etc.).
- Acres must already be insured with a Multi-Peril Crop Insurance Revenue or Yield Protection policy at minimum 65% coverage, and crops must be certified through the local FSA office.

Inputs

Nutrient Management

This program is only partially a cost-share: it pays $5/acre for all enrolled acres with a reduced-nitrogen plan, plus a $30/acre warranty payment only if yield drops below 95% of the farm's ten-year average production history following the nitrogen reduction plan. The warranty is voided if the participant didn't follow the agreed plan, or if a multi-peril/hail/wind insurance claim was paid for the same yield loss.

Apply via the contact form at https://airtable.com/appYU1yQGOdP51NH2/pagIXv8eKYEk8KDQd/form (applications accepted on a rolling basis). Applicants upload a map or photo of the proposed project area and are redirected to schedule a consultation with PFI's habitat systems manager.

Grace Yi

Habitat Systems Manager

Petite Prairies provides a one-time incentive payment to establish small native prairie on odds-and-ends areas within or adjacent to crop fields. Participants receive a flat payment rate of $400 per acre. Funding is made possible by the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship and the State Soil Conservation & Water Quality Committee.



- Project site must be in Iowa.
- Project site must be within or adjacent to a crop field.
- Project size must be 2 acres or less.
- Native prairie seed mix must contain at least 30 total species and 3 blooming species per season (CRP CP42 seed mix meets this), with seeding rates of at least 40 seeds per square foot.
- If accepted, participant must commit to planting prairie on the farm.

Air Quality

Certification

High Tunnel

Landscape

Soil Health

Wildlife & Pollinator Habitat

Certified Organic

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

Participation may also require signing a maintenance agreement or contract with a PFI partner such as the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or NRCS.

Submit a contact form at https://airtable.com/appYU1yQGOdP51NH2/pagIXv8eKYEk8KDQd/form (accepted on a rolling basis), or contact a local Precision Agriculture and Conservation Specialist (PACS) directly.

Precision Conservation Analysis provides a free consultation with a Pheasants Forever precision-ag and conservation specialist (analyzing yield and other spatial data to identify consistently unprofitable acres) plus a one-time precision conservation incentive payment for Iowa and Minnesota farmers who change management on underperforming acres. Payment rate depends on percent of the field changed: $8.00/acre (5-9% of field), $18.00/acre (10-15%), or $26.00/acre (>16%), capped at $10,000 per producer.



Open to Iowa and Minnesota farmers and landowners. A five-year maintenance agreement is required (grazing/haying/mowing restricted until after the Primary Nesting Season, May 15-Aug. 1, each year). Participants must meet NRCS EQIP eligibility criteria to receive the incentive payment, and at least 50% of the changed area must be unprofitable to qualify.

All consultations and farm-specific data are kept confidential; there is no requirement for public access to participate. The incentive is in addition to any federal, state or local conservation-practice payments.

The enrollment period is closed and will reopen in fall 2026. Applicants will need to submit a basic project budget ($500-$2,000) and timeline, a description of their long-term farm vision, examples of prior professional development/community involvement, an example of a previously completed project or program, a description of community/economic impact, and a description of barriers faced as a historically underserved farmer or rancher. Written or video responses are accepted (video capped at 10 minutes, or 20 with interpretation).

Natasha Hegmann

Specialty Crops Business Manager

The Empower Farmers Program offers up-front payments to support the success of historically underserved farmers and ranchers by helping to reduce financial barriers. Payments may be used for a range of eligible farming expenses. Applicants may request between $500 and $2,000 in funding.



You are eligible if you: are a historically underserved farmer or rancher as defined by USDA; own or co-own the farming operation or plan to launch your own farm business (only one co-owner may apply per collective operation); produce table-food crops including fruits, vegetables, nuts, mushrooms and meat; and farm in Iowa, Nebraska or Kansas. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible to apply. Funding priority goes to applicants demonstrating a clear farmer commitment, strong project planning/feasibility, high expected economic or community impact, and high expected impact on farm viability and sustainability.

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

Beginning Farmers

Socially Disadvantaged

Veterans

Español

Native Americans

People Of Color

Women

Historically Underserved

Up-front cash payment, not a reimbursement or cost-share: "Applicants may request between $500 and $2,000 in funding." The application asks for a "Basic budget for your project (proposals may range from $500-$2,000) and an estimated timeline for completing the purchases."

Payments are made before you spend and "may be used for a range of eligible expenses related to farming." No match, no fee, no interest and no repayment is published, and PFI publishes no cost-share percentage and no contract term.

Funding priority (not extra money, just better odds) goes to applicants showing "A clear farmer commitment," "Strong project planning and feasibility," "High expected economic or community impact" and "High expected impact on farm viability and sustainability."

Enrollment is closed at this check: "Enrollment period has ended. Applications will reopen in the fall of 2026."

Applications will open in fall 2026. If accepted, participants must complete the qualifying purchases, a 20-minute consultation call, a program kickoff webinar in February, a payment request form with proof of purchase, and a cost-share program survey.

Practical Farmers of Iowa offers a cost-share program for specialty crop farmers seeking to make on-farm food safety improvements. Participants receive up to $3,000 reimbursement for on-farm food safety improvements such as walk-in coolers, handwashing stations, harvest totes, packing-area enclosures, wildlife exclusion fencing, produce washing equipment, sanitizers, and third-party GAP certification. Funding was made possible by The Builders Initiative.



- Must be a specialty crop producer in Iowa.
- Must have a PSA Grower Training certificate on the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, or plan to attend one before May 1, 2026.
- Must own or operate a farm business; nonprofit organizations are not eligible.
- Eligible expenses (of $3,000 or more) must be made by May 1, 2026; single-use packaging, disposable items, farmers-market tents, and plant-nutrition water-testing equipment are not eligible.

Specialty Crops

Aloe Leaves

Blackberries

Fruits

Honey

Horticulture

Mamey Sapote

Maple Syrup

Mustard Greens

Parsnips

Passion Fruit

Pineapples

Plantains

Pummelos

Raspberries

Rutabagas

Tree Nuts

Vegetables

Abiu

Achachairu

Antidesma

Apples

Apricots

Bananas

Barbados Cherry

Blueberries

Breadfruit

Cacao

Caimito

Calabaza Melon

Canary Melon

Canary Seed

Caneberries

Canistel

Cantaloupes

Casaba Melon

Cherries

Chinese Bitter Melon

Chokeberry

Citron

Citron Melon

Coconuts

Cranberries

Crenshaw Melon

Custard Apple

Dates

Dragon Fruit

Durian

Elderberries

Figs

Genip

Goji

Gooseberries

Grapefruit

Grapes

Guava

Guavaberry

Honeyberries

Honeydew

Huckleberries

Israel Melons

Jack Fruit

Jujube

Juneberries

Kiwiberry

Kiwifruit

Korean Golden Melon

Kumquats

Langsat

Lemons

Limequats

Limes

Longan

Loquats

Lychee

Mangos

Mangosteen

Mayhaw Berries

Mesple

Mulberries

Nectarines

Oranges

Papaya

Passion Fruits

Pawpaw

Peaches

Pears

Pineapple

Plantain

Plumcots

Plums

Pomegranates

Prunes

Pummelo

Raisins

Rambutan

Sapodilla

Sapote

Schizandra Berries

Soursop

Sprite Melon

Star Fruit

Star Gooseberry

Strawberries

Sugar Apple

Tangelos

Tangerines

Tangors

Wampee

Watermelon

Wax Jamboo Fruit

Winter Melon

A flat reimbursement, not a sliding cost-share — you spend first, then get $3,000 back.

- Amount: "The produce safety cost-share offers participants $3,000 in cost-share funds to reimburse eligible expenses for on-farm food safety improvements of $3,000 or more." So there is effectively no percentage cost-share and no partial award — hit $3,000 in qualifying spend and you are reimbursed $3,000.
- Spending deadline: "Eligible expenses must be made by May 1, 2026." You must "Complete at least $3,000 in qualifying purchases... by May 1, 2026."
- What you commit to beyond spending: a 20-minute consultation call, a February kickoff webinar, a payment request form with receipts as proof of purchase, and a program survey.
- Training prerequisite: a PSA Grower Training certificate on the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, or a plan to attend one before May 1, 2026.
- No double-dipping: many eligible items "are also eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency's Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program, but cannot be reimbursed by both programs."

Eligible: walk-in cooler or CoolBot install, pack-shed food-contact surface upgrades, handwashing stations, cleanable harvest totes, portable toilet rental, enclosing a packing area, enclosing growing areas (high tunnels, caterpillar tunnels, row cover), fencing or netting to exclude wildlife, produce washing equipment, sanitizers/applicators/test strips, reusable distribution containers, third-party GAP certification and water testing.

Not eligible: single-use packaging (clamshells, wax boxes, paper bags), disposables (gloves, paper towels), farmers-market tents, and water-testing equipment for plant nutrition. Nonprofits are not eligible — you must own or operate a farm business.

Funding is from The Builders Initiative. Applications for the next round open in fall 2026.

List of Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Funding Opportunities