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 2026: Cover Crop, Field Borders, and Native Buffers Program
Supported by the Sand County Foundation Farmer Led Funding, SSWIG is offering cost share for cover crops, field borders, and native buffers. If you've been wanting to try these practices—now is the time! Learn more in the Farmer Led Funding section below.
SSWIG Cost Share Programs
Application deadline for 2026 SSWIG cost-share programs is October 1, 2026.
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 3 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.​
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.
$50.00 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.
$20.00 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)
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)
Submit your completed application via email to sswig.wi@gmail.com or mail to:
SSWIG c/o Ron Bula
S4515 Scenic Road, Baraboo, WI 53913
SSWIG Farmer Led Fund Cost Share
Through a generous grant, Sand County Foundation has enabled us to implement a cost share program for cover crops, field borders, and native buffers.
This program will protect your land, benefit wildlife, and boost your farm’s long-term productivity. Receive a base rate for cover crops based on planting time, or introduce field borders or native buffers for a per acre payment.
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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 Crops
Reduce erosion and enhance soil fertility by establishing cover crops. Time of planting will dictate the rate received:
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Planted by August 31: $50/acre
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Planted Aug 31-Sep 30: $40/acre
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Planted Oct 1-Nov 1: $30/acre
Introduction of Field Borders
Include harvestable buffers on field edges that are low yielding. These buffers are NRCS premixes that meet requirements for this practice standard. Mixes are determined by soil category (dry mesic-mesic and mesic-wet mesic) and include cool season species like orchardgrass, timothy, clovers or alfalfa.
$75.00/acre payment
Installation of Native Bufffers
Install native buffers for wildlife benefit. These buffers are NRCS premixes that meet requirements for this practice standard. Mixes are determined by soil category (dry, dry mesic, mesic, wet mesic, and wet). These warm season mixes may consist of species such as bluestem, switchgrass, indiangrass, wild rye, coneflower, goldenrod, aster, cupplant and more.
$150.00/acre payment
Submit your completed application via email to sswig.wi@gmail.com or mail to:
SSWIG c/o Ron Bula
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