January 2025 SWCD Board Meeting will be held on January 16th at 9 am
More Programs
Well Sealing Cost-Share
State Cost-Share Program
State Cost-Share Program
Unused wells can be dangerous to your Health. If you have an unused well on your property, get it sealed!
The SWCD provides 90% cost-share to get your well sealed properly.
State Cost-Share Program
State Cost-Share Program
State Cost-Share Program
A variety of cost-share programs are available to help landowners pay for installing best management conservation practices. SWCD/NRCS technicians work with landowners to access funding through federal, state, and local programs.
Producers may receive up to 75% of the total eligible practice cost.
AgBMP Loan Program
State Cost-Share Program
Technical Assistance
The AgBMP Loan Program is a water quality program that provides low interest loans to farmers, rural landowners, and agriculture supply businesses. The purpose is to encourage agricultural best management practices that prevent or reduce runoff from feedlots, farm fields and other pollution problems identified by the county in local water plans.
Technical Assistance
USDA NRCS Program Offers
Technical Assistance
The SWCD, along with its NRCS partners, provides technical assistance for all landowners to:
- Conduct a site investigation with the landowner/operator;
- Work with landowner to determine the best management practices possible for any given situation;
- Survey/design the project;
- Produce a rough cost-estimate;
- Provide landowner with a design for submission of bids;
- Perform a pre-construction conference with the contractor/landowner;
- Supervise construction and certify completion of the project.
Additional Programs
USDA NRCS Program Offers
USDA NRCS Program Offers
- Clean Water Land & Legacy *Funding/Grants
- RIM (Reinvest in Minnesota) *Land Retirement Program
- WIA (Walk in Access) *Public Hunting on Private Lands
- MN Ag Water Quality Certification Program
- Educational Programs/Activities
- Prairie Ecology Bus *Funding provided by the SWCD
- SW MN Area Environmental Fair
- Producer Trainings & Events
- DNR Observation Well Readings
- County Noxious Weed Inspector *Weed Enforcement
- WCA (Wetland Conservation Act)
- Free Manure Sample Kits *Landowners/Occupier must pay any related lab fees.
USDA NRCS Program Offers
USDA NRCS Program Offers
USDA NRCS Program Offers
The Pipestone SWCD works closely with the USDA NRCS to get conservation practices put on the ground. Below are some of the programs the NRCS has to offer:
- EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program)
- CSP (Conservation Stewardship Program)
- ACEP (Agricultural Conservation Easement Program)
- CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) *Administered by the USDA FSA
- Web Soil Survey
Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources
BWSR is the state soil and water conservation agency, and it administers programs that prevent sediment and nutrients from entering our lakes, rivers, and streams; enhance fish and wildlife habitat; and protect wetlands. The 20-member board consists of representatives of local and state government agencies and citizens.
The Natural Resources Block Grant (NRBG) is administered by BWSR.
The Natural Resources Block Grant is a composite of base grants available to local government units that help them implement programs designed to protect and improve water resources. Individual programs under this grant include:
- Comprehensive Local Water Management
- Wetland Conservation Act
- DNR - Shore Land Management
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Feedlot Permit Program
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Septic System Program
Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
In 2008, the people of Minnesota voted to pass the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. The Legacy Amendment is both the largest state conservation measure and the largest states arts funding measure in U.S. history. It only happened because Minnesotans, even during a recession and economic crisis, voted to raise their own taxes to protect the things that makes our state unique and special.
Prior to 2008, conservation funding in Minnesota was at a 30-year low. In the ten years since the amendment was passed, hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in Minnesota's future through cultural and environmental programs and projects.
For more information, click here.
MN AG Water Quality Certification Program
The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) is a voluntary opportunity for farmers and agricultural landowners to take the lead in implementing conservation practices that protect our water. Those who implement and maintain approved farm management practices will be certified and in turn obtain regulatory certainty for a period of ten years.
