Cost Share Programs
Encouraging new conservation practices.
Sauk Soil and Water Improvement Group (SSWIG) Conservation Practice Cost Share Programs encourage local farms to test and adopt new conservation practices on their operations. These funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis until all fund pools have been allocated. Learn more in the Cost Share Programs section below.
New for 2025: Batch & Grow Programs
Supported by the Sand County Foundation, SSWIG is offering Batch & Grow Programs for cover crops and stockpiling pasture. If you've been wanting to try cover crops—all you need to do is point and SSWIG will take care of the rest! Learn more in the Batch & Grow section below.
SSWIG Cost Share Programs
Application deadline for 2025 SSWIG cost-share programs is October 1, 2025.
SSWIG practice cost share funds will only be disbursed after program participants provide proof of implementation (e.g. photos, receipts, field maps, and seed tags if applicable), and the SSWIG advisory committee has reviewed and approved payments.​​
Eligibility Requirements:
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Applicant must be a current registered SSWIG Member(s).
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Applicant must complete current annual farm practice survey (please see page 4 of application).
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Field(s) in application must be within the SSWIG focus watershed boundaries (please see map).
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Field(s) in application cannot be enrolled in additional cost share programs for the same practice(s).
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Field(s) in application must meet WI State Agriculture Performance Standards and Prohibitions.​
Education Scholarship
Reimbursed registration fees for a class, workshop, field day or event about soil health practices and/or water quality.
​$50.00 max./SSWIG Member
Single Species Cover Crop
Plant a cover crop that will over-winter.
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$30.00 per acre
(50 acre maximum per application)
Grazing Cover Crops
Integrate livestock onto your croplands by grazing cover crops.
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$80.00 per acre
(50 acre maximum per application)
No Till
Implement no-till on the field(s) applied for.
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$25.00 per acre
(50 acre maximum per application)
Multi-Species Cover Crop
Plant two or more cover crops, with at least one species that will over-winter.
$60.00 per acre
(50 acre maximum per application)
Grazing Management
Implement a grazing management plan approved by SSWIG to track pasture rotations for a grazing season.
$10.00/acre
(50 acre maximum per application)
Winter Kill Cover Crop
Plant a cover crop that will not over-winter.
$25.00 per acre
(50 acre maximum per application)
Planting Green
Plant cash crops into living cover crop(s) prior to terminating them.
$20.00 per acre
(50 acre maximum per application)
Submit your completed application via email to sswig.wi@gmail.com or mail to:
Sauk Soil & Water Improvement Group
S4515 Scenic Road, Baraboo, WI 53913
SSWIG Batch & Grow Programs
Through a generous grant, Sand County Foundation has enabled us to implement Batch & Grow Programs for Cover Crops and Stockpiling Pasture.
This Cover Crop program helps you save time, protect your land, and boost your farm’s long-term productivity. You select the location and SSWIG takes care of the rest. Choose from two Narrows Valley Supply seed mixes or straight rye seed. Aerial (drone) or drill seeding. SSWIG covers the seed and planting cost.
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Our Stockpiling Pasture program helps you reduce your feed costs, and pays you to do it!
See the Cost Share Application Addendum for more information and to apply. These programs are open to SSWIG members.
This project is supported by Sand County Foundation with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Supplemental Agreement #2971
Cover Crop: Batch/Grow
Reduce erosion and enhance soil fertility by establishing cover crops on corn and soybean acres, or after small grain harvest.
View/Download flyer HERE.
Stockpiling: Batch/Grow
Get paid to set aside pasture for 60-80 days. Stockpiling saves forage for overwinter use without harvesting. View/Download flyer HERE.
$35.50/acre
Submit your completed application via email to sswig.wi@gmail.com or mail to:
Sauk Soil & Water Improvement Group
S4515 Scenic Road, Baraboo, WI 53913
QUESTIONS? Contact:
Patrick Bula: 608-355-4839, patrick.bula@saukcountywi.gov
Mitch McCarthy: 608-355-4836, mitchell.mccarthy@saukcountywi.gov