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TNC Awards $195,000, Unlocking More Than $1.16 Million in Agricultural Equipment Investments

Funding will support new equipment, expand conservation services and impact more than 55,000 acres

Arlington, VA | August 31, 2026

farmer in tractor.

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The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has awarded $195,000 through its Ag Retailer Equipment Cost Share pilot project to 11 agricultural retailers and service providers across Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois, helping expand access to equipment and services that support regenerative agriculture practices. The awards are expected to leverage more than $1.16 million in total equipment investments and impact more than 55,000 acres during the first year alone.

The project, administered by TNC’s North America Agriculture program, provided matching funds to agricultural retailers, custom applicators and service providers to purchase or upgrade equipment that helps farmers implement practices such as cover crops, no-till, strip-till and precision nutrient management. By investing in trusted service providers rather than individual farms, the program accelerates adoption across multiple operations and communities.

“The strong response to this pilot confirms what we’ve been hearing from farmers for years: interest in regenerative agriculture is growing, but access to equipment and services remains a significant barrier,” said Karyl Fritsche, an agribusiness partnership specialist for The Nature Conservancy. “By partnering with agricultural retailers and service providers, we’re strengthening the local infrastructure farmers need to adopt conservation practices and delivering impact at a much larger scale.”

The pilot generated significant interest throughout TNC’s Upper Mississippi River Foodscape project area, attracting 40 applications requesting nearly $700,000 in funding and representing more than $3.2 million in planned equipment investments. Demand exceeded available funding by more than three-to-one, highlighting the need for continued investment in the equipment and services that help farmers adopt regenerative practices.

Funded projects include investments in cover crop seeding equipment, strip-till and no-till systems, drones, seed handling equipment and precision nutrient management technologies. These tools will help retailers expand service offerings and enable more farmers to adopt practices that improve soil health, reduce nutrient loss, enhance water quality and build farm resilience.

“This equipment cost-share program has been a great tool for accelerating the investments needed to scale my operation and service more customers,” said James Wendel, owner of J&S Ag Company in Minnesota, one of the program recipients. “In just the first season, the new equipment has increased the number of acres I can service by 35%, helping expand access to regenerative agriculture practices.”

Research and outreach conducted through the pilot reinforced the important role agricultural retailers play in conservation adoption. Many farmers need access to specialized services rather than ownership of expensive equipment, making retailers and custom applicators a critical link between conservation programs and on-farm implementation.

The pilot program’s results demonstrate that relatively modest grant investments can unlock substantially larger private-sector investments while expanding conservation services across thousands of acres. TNC is evaluating funding opportunities to expand the model in future years.

The 2026 award recipients are:

  • C&D Aerial (Iowa)
  • Linn Cooperative Oil Company (Iowa)
  • T-A Cattle and Covers LLC (Iowa)
  • 7 Gen Ag (Iowa)
  • Beaver Creek Land Solutions, LLC (Iowa)
  • Joe Rowe (Iowa)
  • Scott Custom Agriculture (Iowa)
  • Top Flight Ag LLC (Iowa)
  • Valley View Ag Services LLC (Wisconsin)
  • J&S AG Company (Minnesota)
  • Polo Cooperative Association (Illinois)

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. For more news, visit our newsroom or follow The Nature Conservancy on LinkedIn.