Truterra Opens 4 Programs, Highlighting Options for Long-Term Adopters

In two years, Truterra has paid farmers more than $9 million for more than 462,000 metric tons of carbon benefits. 

For the first time in 2024, the business is expanding enrollment to include long-term adopters, specifically for qualified farmers who have adopted cover crops or reduced tillage before crop year 2021.

“The expansion of eligibility for qualified farmers is something we’re proud to offer and is another step forward in our mission to meet farmers wherever they are in their sustainability journey,” said Truterra President Jamie Leifker. “Truterra is committed to working with ag retailers to maximize their relationships with farmers, as they are often the most trusted advisor. We will continue to expand our ag retail network and together lead the way with innovative solutions to position farmers to increase their productivity and profitability while working to improve the long-term environmental sustainability of their operations.” 

Here are further details on the four programs open for enrollment: 

Carbon Program: Designed to help offset technical and financial costs for a change practice, farmers can earn up to $30/metric ton of carbon stored with a minimum of $2/acre when making certain practice changes in crop year 2024 or earlier. Acres in rotation with corn, soybeans, wheat, or cotton are eligible, and the program is limited to certain states. 

USDA Financial Assistance Program: Farmers can earn up to $25/acre for strip/no-till, $55/acre for cover crop addition, or $80/acre for both tillage/cover crops. Fields must be less than or equal to 160 acres and be in corn, cotton, soybeans or what in 2024. The program is open to farmers in all states except for AK, HI, MA, NH, NM, VT and RI. Supports and rewards eligible farmers for transitioning to new qualifying conservation agronomy practices on their fields.

Nitrogen Management Program: This program is available in IL, IN, OH, and TN for acres in a rotation with corn. It rewards farmers for improving nitrogen management practices on corn fields with up to $5/acre for reducing applied nitrogen by at least 20 lbs./acre and/or using an approved enhanced efficiency fertilizer on corn fields. A requirement is three years of data.

Cedar River Regional Conservation Partnership Program: The program is designed to help improve drinking water quality, reduce flood risk and improve wildlife habitat in Iowa’s Cedar River Watershed. Cost-share incentives are offered to add conservation practices such as cover crops, saturated buffers, no-till/strip till, wetland creation, enhancement, or restoration, bioreactors or prairie strips and related practices.