Partner with ESE

Partnership Based Projects

ESE is proud to partner with both individual landowners, as well as private companies and government agencies to provide assistance on various conservation drainage projects throughout the Midwest.

We are currently working on turn key projects in select Minnesota counties, as well as in the Illinois River Basin.

Turn-key projects are an approach to conservation drainage adoption where a single provider handles all aspects of implementing these practices, from planning and design to construction and maintenance, ensuring a fully functional system ready for immediate use. This approach simplifies the process and reduces the need for multiple contractors, potentially leading to cost savings and streamlined project management.

What is “Turn Key” Assistance?

Ecosystem Services Exchange (ESE), a Technical Service Provider (TSP), receives funding from NRCS to do the complete (“turn key”) job for the farmer and NRCS – – site review/assessment; practice/system planning, design, and implementation/installation; followup; and, progress/outcome reporting. This “turn key” work is at no cost to the farmer and achieves results on-the-ground in a streamlined manner, with less burden, and through a timely, continuous stream of technical activities. Funds go directly from NRCS to the TSP to complete a farmer’s agreed-to conservation work, including paying for the services of a land improvement contractor for practice installation.

What is the Project Area?

The 41 eligible southern Minnesota counties are those south of the Mississippi River, west of the eastern Sterns County line to the South Dakota state line, but excluding the karst topography counties in southeastern Minnesota.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible for consideration, a farmer in the project area must have tile-drained cropland with suitable slope and soil characteristics for practice implementation, and be in compliance with USDA’s Highly Erodible Lands and Wetlands Conservation Compliance Provisions, plus other applicable environmental laws and regulations.

What Conservation Drainage Practices Are Offered?

Conservation drainage practices offered include drainage water management, denitrifying bioreactors, and saturated buffers to manage tile water for increased crop yields, efficient use of nutrients, improved water quality, and climate change. Automation of some practices also is available.

What is the Funding Amount for this Project?

Under the “Managed Tile Drainage Systems” Project, a cooperative agreement between NRCS Minnesota and ESE has obligated $582,447 in funding, with 90 percent from NRCS through EQIP and 10 percent in-kind from ESE. Project funding is sufficient to conduct 68 site assessments and feasibility studies on farms, leading to plans, designs, and implementation of a significant number of conservation drainage practices with full “turn key”, timely support from ESE and its partnering land improvement contractors at no cost to farmers.

How Does a Farmer Participate?

A participating farmer works directly with ESE’s conservation planners to arrange a site review/assessment of field(s) for technical feasibility determinations and a full discussion of the options for participation (plan, design, and/or installation). Based on the farmer’s decisions, ESE prepares a conservation plan and design to guide installation of selected eligible conservation practices. When practices are also chosen for implementation, the farmer enters into a no-cost agreement with ESE for the selected installation work, including timing that is consistent with the farmer’s operational needs and within the constraints of the project timelines.

Who Provides the “Turn Key” Technical Services?

ESE is a certified TSP in operation since 2010 that works closely with farmers to help them plan, design, implement/install, and manage conservation drainage practices. ESE has a long collaborative history with USDA and many other public and private sector entities and has worked extensively with farmers on conservation drainage throughout the Chesapeake Bay, Upper Mississippi River, and Great Lakes Basins.

What Are the Expected Outcomes of this Project?

Full implementation of “Managed Tile-Drainage Systems” will reduce nitrate loading by an estimated 55,000 pounds per year through the planned denitrifying bioreactors, saturated buffers, and drainage water management systems (manual and automated), while improving crop resilience and production.

What Are the Benefits of the “Turn Key” Public/Private Partnership Approach?

Streamlined, accelerated approach to on-the-ground results using the proven vehicle of a cooperative agreement.
Reduced financial, administrative, labor, and implementation/installation “waiting-time” burden for busy producers.
Accelerated conservation drainage practice/system implementation during today’s narrow time window as aging tile systems are being rapidly replaced or upgraded across the major tile-drained landscapes.
Recognition of conservation drainage as foundational to addressing all conservation needs on tile-drained landscapes, including reducing GHG emissions and mitigating climate change impacts.
Places emphasis on the public/private partnership approach to agricultural conservation that creates a more effective and enduring whole as compared to each entity operating independently or unilaterally.