State Agricultural Programs Beyond Federal

Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB)

Voluntary conservation agreements and easements for working agricultural lands. Funds conservation management plans and working land conservation covenants that keep land in agricultural production while protecting natural resources.

Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board

Grants for riparian restoration, fish passage improvements, water quality projects, and watershed assessments. Funded by Oregon Lottery dollars. One of the larger state conservation programs in the western U.S.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Provides funding for wildlife habitat improvements on private land, including fencing, water development, and habitat restoration for elk, deer, and sage-grouse.

Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA)

Compensates livestock producers for confirmed and probable wolf depredation losses. Also provides financial assistance for implementing non-lethal wolf deterrence techniques and livestock management practices to reduce conflict.

Business Oregon

Provides below-market-rate financing for beginning and expanding farmers through tax-exempt bond authority. Helps new farmers acquire depreciable farm property at lower interest rates.

Oregon Department of Revenue / County Assessors

Agricultural land in Oregon can be assessed at farm use value rather than market value for property taxes, which may significantly reduce the tax burden on working agricultural land.

Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB)

Cost-share program for targeted brush control to increase available surface and ground water. Focuses on species like Ashe juniper, mesquite, and salt cedar that consume significant water resources.

Texas Water Development Board (TWDB)

Grants for agricultural water conservation projects that improve irrigation efficiency, enhance resilience to weather extremes, and promote innovation. Over 30 years of supporting water conservation statewide.

Texas Water Development Board (TWDB)

Linked deposit loan program providing access to TWDB funds through participating local banks and farm credit institutions for water conservation improvements.

Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board

State-funded cost-share for water quality management plans and conservation practices including brush control, livestock waste management, and erosion control.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Supports habitat restoration for endangered and at-risk species on private land, including prescribed fire, brush management, and grassland restoration.

Texas Department of Agriculture / TAFA

Grant program to help Texas agricultural producers start, grow, or expand their operations. Part of the modernized Texas Agricultural Finance Authority programs created by HB 43.

Iowa Dept. of Agriculture & Land Stewardship (IDALS)

State-funded cost-share for permanent soil and water conservation practices including terraces, waterways, grade stabilization structures, and water and sediment control basins.

Iowa Dept. of Agriculture & Land Stewardship

Targeted cost-share for cover crops, no-till/strip-till, and nitrogen management practices as part of Iowa's Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Focuses on water quality improvement.

Iowa Dept. of Agriculture & Land Stewardship

Iowa farmers who plant fall-seeded cover crops may qualify for a $5/acre premium discount on their federal crop insurance policy, effectively reducing the cost of insurance.

Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources / IDALS

Iowa income tax credits for permanent soil and water conservation practices including terraces, waterways, wetlands, and permanent native vegetation. Credits can offset the cost of conservation investments.

Iowa Finance Authority / Agricultural Development Division

Provides an Iowa income tax credit to agricultural asset owners who lease land, equipment, or buildings to qualifying beginning farmers. Designed to incentivize landowners to work with new producers.

Iowa Dept. of Agriculture & Land Stewardship

Targeted cost-share for edge-of-field practices including bioreactors, saturated buffers, and constructed wetlands. Part of Iowa's strategy to reduce nutrient loading in waterways.

Montana Livestock Loss Board / Dept. of Livestock

Grants for proactive measures to reduce livestock predation by wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, and mountain lions. Funds range riders, carcass removal, bear exclusion fencing, and other prevention tools.

Montana Livestock Loss Board

Financial reimbursement to producers for confirmed livestock losses caused by wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, or mountain lions. Established by the Montana Legislature in 2007.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

Annual payments to landowners who allow public hunting access on their property. While not a conservation cost-share, the revenue can help offset conservation investments on your operation.

Montana Dept. of Agriculture / Agriculture Development Council

Grants and loans to strengthen and diversify Montana agriculture through development of new agricultural products and processes. Supports equipment, construction, marketing, and consulting for value-added projects.

Montana Dept. of Agriculture

Tax-exempt bond program that helps beginning farmers and ranchers acquire agricultural property at below-market interest rates. Enables participating Montana lenders to offer reduced rates.

Montana Dept. of Environmental Quality

Grants for projects that reduce nonpoint source water pollution, including riparian restoration, livestock exclusion fencing, and agricultural best management practices for stream health.

Georgia Dept. of Agriculture / Farmland Conservation Council

State program to protect Georgia farmland through conservation easements and other protective measures. Created by the Georgia General Assembly to prevent loss of agricultural land to development.

Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC)

State conservation programs that deliver best management practices (BMPs) for soil and water resource protection on private agricultural lands. Includes cost-share for erosion control, water quality, and land stewardship.

Georgia Dept. of Revenue / County Tax Assessors

Property tax benefit that assesses agricultural and conservation land at current use value instead of fair market value. Can reduce property taxes by 50% or more compared to fair market value assessment.

Georgia Dept. of Revenue / County Tax Assessors

An alternative to CUVA for agricultural land that does not require a 10-year covenant. Land is assessed based on its current agricultural use value, though savings may be less than CUVA.

Georgia Dept. of Agriculture (administers USDA/AMS funds)

Competitive grants to enhance competitiveness of specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, nursery, greenhouse) in Georgia. Funds research, education, and marketing projects that benefit the specialty crop industry.

Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission

Targeted assistance for small and limited-resource farms in Georgia, including technical assistance for conservation planning and access to cost-share programs through local Soil and Water Conservation Districts.