Soil and Water Outcomes Fund enrollment now open to Indiana farmers

BY DAVE BLOWER JR.

June that Indiana farmers are eligible to enroll in its program that provides payment for environmental outcomes that result from implementing conservation practices. The Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA), the state’s soybean checkoff program, is in its second year of assisting with this project.

In 2022, the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund provided an average of $34 per acre to farmers who transitioned to on-farm conservation practices that yield outcomes like carbon sequestration and water quality improvements. New conservation practices that qualify could include tillage reductions, implementing cover crops and extending crop rotations. When implemented with another one of these practices, fertilization management can also yield environmental outcomes.

“The soybean checkoff program supports many programs like this that encourage good soil and water conservation practices,” said ISA board member Denise Scarborough, a farmer from La Crosse, Ind., and chair of the Sustainability and Value Creation Committee. “As a checkoff, we believe this program is unique because it focuses on the outcomes of soil and water conservation practices. This is a chance for farmers to receive a payment for taking care of their own land.”

USDA and several private companies, including PepsiCo, Cargill, Renewable Energy Group, Ingredion, Target, JBS, and Coca-Cola, are partnering with the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund to encourage farmer adoption of conservation practices that generate verifiable gains in carbon reduction and water quality. “We are thrilled to work with our partners to provide new conservation incentives to Indiana farmers and to deliver greenhouse gas and water quality improvements on farms,” said Dan Yeoman, Soil and Water Outcomes Fund managing director.

Adam Kiel, executive vice president of the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, added, “As the most farmer friendly ecosystem services program in the industry today we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver practical and flexible conservation agronomy support to farmers to enhance the value of their land for years to come.”

ISA and program participants believe Hoosier farmers will also see soil improvements. “It may take some time, but practices like cover crops and minimum tillage will help with soil health. I would tell anyone on the fence that if you’re leaning toward enrolling in a carbon program, go with the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund because of the team and the support they provide,” said Adam Peters, an Ohio farmer enrolled in the program.

A map of cropland areas in Indiana that are eligible for 2023 enrollment is available on the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund website, www.theoutcomesfund.com.

Farmers or landowners interested in enrolling in the program can do so through the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund website or by contacting a member of our conservation agronomy team at contactus@theoutcomesfund.com. Farmers may also contact ISA Sustainability and Value Creation Director Ben Forsythe at bforsythe@indianasoybean.com.