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How Innovative Financing Is Helping Farmers Invest in Conservation

September 21, 2026
For farmers, adopting conservation practices can mean upfront costs and benefits that take years to develop. In Iowa, an innovative financing model is helping expand the support available to farmers making that transition. Through a sustainability-linked loan, Heartland Co-op can lower its borrowing costs by meeting ambitious conservation goals. Those savings help its conservation team support more farmers adopting nature-based solutions like cover crops and saturated buffers — protecting soil and water for the next generation.