Minnesota

About the Minnesota Pilot
The Minnesota pilot will be led by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, supported by the Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota Soil Health Coalition, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, Renewing the Countryside, and Sustainable Farming Association.
Participating Districts & Eligible Counties
To enroll in the Alliance, farm must be located within one of the following counties:

  • East Otter Tail County
  • Fillmore County
  • Houston County
  • Kandiyohi County
  • Redwood County
  • Renville County
  • Stevens County
  • Wadena County
Farmer Eligibility
The Alliance is open to agricultural producers within the participating counties listed above.

Producers may apply with up to two FSA numbers per designated operator. Payments will go to the FSA-designated operator, or be divided between the primary operator and up to (1) co-applicant per FSA number.

Eligible producers will:

  • Enroll a minimum of (3) acres or (10) animal units at an operation located within one of the approved participating districts;
  • Have a verified Farm Service Agency (FSA) number;
  • Confirm that the land enrolled and the practice(s) requested will not also be enrolled in a USDA conservation program or other program associated with the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities sponsored grant program;
  • Confirm that the land enrolled and the practice(s) requested will not be dually enrolled in a cost-share program;
  • Confirm that the producer will have control of the land for the term of the producer agreement, and
  • The producer must consent to report total greenhouse gas benefits using COMET, Fieldprint and/or RUSLE2.

Applications will be at www.allianceforcsa.org during the open enrollment period. Hard copies will be available at district offices.

Eligible Climate-Smart Practices
Qualifying practices have been selected from the USDA-NRCS list of conservation practices, linked below.  Enrolled producers will self-verify the planning and implementation of practices using the Alliance Practice Worksheets, which have been adapted from NRCS standards.  Click here to view the Practice Worksheets for each state.

Conservation Crop Rotation (328)
Residue and Tillage Management, No Till (329)
Cover Crop (340)
Residue and Tillage Management, Reduced Till (345)
Silvopasture (381)*
Riparian Herbaceous Cover (390)*
Riparian Forest Buffer (391)*
Nutrient Management (590)
Tree/Shrub Establishment (612)*
Pasture and Hay Planting (512)*
Prescribed Grazing (528)
Feed Management (592)

*This practice requires a CPA-52 Environmental Evaluation Worksheet.  Please contact your State Implementer for assistance completing this form.

Payments
This project will pay producers $100 per acre or animal unit per year. Only one practice can be applied per acre or animal unit. Producers will be able to install as many practices as they choose, as long as each practice occurs on different acres or animal units across the farm.

Producers will receive 50% of the payment upfront, 25% after implementation and verification, and 25% after final reporting. Underserved producers may be eligible for a 100% upfront payment. All payments will be issued by Virginia Tech.

Contact Minnesota

If you are an eligible producer interested in participating in the pilot, please contact:

Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources

Suzanne Rhees   |  [email protected]
Jennifer Hahn  |  [email protected]

STATE IMPLEMENTER

Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

Minnesota Farmers Union
Minnesota Soil Health Coalition
Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association

EQUITY PARTNERS

Renewing The Countryside
Sustainable Farming Association

RESOURCES

Application Checklist for Producers ⇗
Producer Guide ⇗
Conservation Practice Worksheets ⇗
Approved Practices Guide ⇗

Partner Resources
About the Minnesota Pilot
The Minnesota pilot will be led by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, supported by the Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota Soil Health Coalition, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, Renewing the Countryside, and Sustainable Farming Association.
Participating Districts & Eligible Counties

To enroll in the Alliance, farm must be located within one of the following counties:

  • East Otter Tail County
  • Fillmore County
  • Houston County
  • Kandiyohi County
  • Redwood County
  • Renville County
  • Stevens County
  • Wadena County

Farmer Eligibility
The Alliance is open to agricultural producers within the participating counties listed above.

Producers may apply with up to two FSA numbers per designated operator. Payments will go to the FSA-designated operator, or be divided between the primary operator and up to (1) co-applicant per FSA number.

Eligible producers will:

  • Enroll a minimum of (3) acres or (10) animal units at an operation located within one of the approved participating districts;
  • Have a verified Farm Service Agency (FSA) number;
  • Confirm that the land enrolled and the practice(s) requested will not also be enrolled in a USDA conservation program or other program associated with the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities sponsored grant program;
  • Confirm that the land enrolled and the practice(s) requested will not be dually enrolled in a cost-share program;
  • Confirm that the producer will have control of the land for the term of the producer agreement, and
  • The producer must consent to report total greenhouse gas benefits using COMET, Fieldprint and/or RUSLE2.

Applications will be at www.allianceforcsa.org during the open enrollment period. Hard copies will be available at district offices.

Eligible Climate-Smart Practices
Qualifying practices have been selected from the USDA-NRCS list of conservation practices, linked below.  Enrolled producers will self-verify the planning and implementation of practices using the Alliance Practice Worksheets, which have been adapted from NRCS standards.  Click here to view the Practice Worksheets for each state.

Conservation Crop Rotation (328)
Residue and Tillage Management, No Till (329)
Cover Crop (340)
Residue and Tillage Management, Reduced Till (345)
Silvopasture (381)*
Riparian Herbaceous Cover (390)*
Riparian Forest Buffer (391)*
Nutrient Management (590)
Tree/Shrub Establishment (612)*
Pasture and Hay Planting (512)*
Prescribed Grazing (528)
Feed Management (592)

*This practice requires a CPA-52 Environmental Evaluation Worksheet.  Please contact your State Implementer for assistance completing this form.

Payments
This project will pay producers $100 per acre or animal unit per year. Only one practice can be applied per acre or animal unit. Producers will be able to install as many practices as they choose, as long as each practice occurs on different acres or animal units across the farm.

Producers will receive 50% of the payment upfront, 25% after implementation and verification, and 25% after final reporting. Underserved producers may be eligible for a 100% upfront payment. All payments will be issued by Virginia Tech.

Contact Minnesota

If you are an eligible producer interested in participating in the pilot, please contact:

Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources

Suzanne Rhees   |  [email protected]
Jennifer Hahn  |  [email protected]

STATE IMPLEMENTER
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
Minnesota Farmers Union
Minnesota Soil Health Coalition
Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association
EQUITY PARTNERS
Renewing The Countryside
Sustainable Farming Association
RESOURCES
Application Checklist for Producers ⇗
Producer Guide ⇗
Conservation Practice Worksheets ⇗
Approved Practices Guide ⇗
Partner Resources
  • Participating Counties
Back To Our Partners