Truterra & FarmRaise: Revolutionizing Regenerative Agriculture in Iowa

Regenerative Practices Unlocking Financial Support for Farmers 

Arden Hills, MN and Riverside, CA, August 16, 2022 – Truterra, LLC, the sustainability business and subsidiary of Land O’Lakes, Inc., one of America’s largest farmer-owned cooperatives, today announced a new collaboration with FarmRaise to expand farmer access to its end-to-end funding software via ag retailers.  FarmRaise identifies and helps farmers apply to grants and financial assistance programs for on-farm regenerative practices. Among the services FarmRaise provides is an online and easy to use application form for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the USDA’s largest pool of funding for regenerative practices.
 
Through a two-minute FarmRaise survey, farmers can be matched with relevant funding programs and sign-up for a membership. A one-year membership is available at no cost for farmers working with participating Iowa ag retailers in the Truterra network. Qualified farmers are quickly and easily matched with relevant funding programs from FarmRaise’s library of more than 1,000 funding opportunities. Truterra and FarmRaise will pilot this innovative approach with Iowa ag retailers in the Truterra network with the goal of scaling the collaboration across the Truterra network in the future. Farmers located in Iowa may connect with a Truterra retailer in their area to get started with FarmRaise. Participating retailers for this pilot include Cooperative Farmers Elevator, Farmers Cooperative Society, Five Star Cooperative, Heartland Co-op, Innovative Ag Services, Key Cooperative, Landus Cooperative, Linn Co-op Oil Company, Northern Country Co-op, River Valley Cooperative and Windy Ridge Ag.
 

Breaking through the Barriers

“The upfront cost associated with shifting your production model is all too often a significant barrier for farmers to adopt regenerative practices,” said Sami Tellatin, COO/Co-Founder of FarmRaise. “Making FarmRaise available to farmers through Truterra will not only help them navigate the grant and loan landscape to start their sustainability journey, but it can set them up for greater financial payoffs in the long run and potentially prepare for participating in the carbon market.”
 
A FarmRaise membership includes access to the digital FarmRaise platform and supportive funding experts to identify grants to apply for over the year. Farmers will also receive a tailored funding alerts and customized newsletters detailing upcoming federal and state grant opportunities with deadline reminders to help farmers not miss these potential farm funding opportunities.
 
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with ag retailers to open up new funding opportunities for regenerative practices,” said Mariah Murphy, Director of Retailer and Farmer Services, Truterra. “The time and expertise required for farmers to identify and apply for financial assistance can hinder farmers from getting the support they need to adopt regenerative practices across their operations, and Truterra is committed to helping farmers overcome this barrier and supporting their transition to more sustainable practices.”

To learn more about the Truterra carbon program visit here.
 

About Truterra, LLC

Truterra is a leading sustainability solutions provider, advancing and connecting sustainability efforts throughout the food system at scale – from farmers to ag retailers to value chain collaborators including food and fiber companies. Truterra positions farmers for success by providing them tools and resources to establish a stewardship baseline, track progress on every field they farm, access conservation resources, and prepare for ecosystem services market opportunities. The Truterra network brings together the best in agricultural technology and precision conservation to drive sustainability across the food system, feeding people, safeguarding the planet, and supporting farmer livelihoods. Truterra was launched in 2016 by Land O'Lakes, Inc., a member-owned cooperative that spans the spectrum from agricultural production to consumer foods. Learn more about the Truterra carbon program here.
 

About FarmRaise

FarmRaise provides a digital platform that enables farmers to easily navigate farm funding. Since early 2020, FarmRaise has connected over 13,000 farmers with grant and loan opportunities and submitted applications for hundreds of farmers to conservation grants and operational microloans. Founded by a team spanning experience on family farms, at robust technology companies, and USDA grant agencies, FarmRaise executes towards a vision of “vital farming communities”. By providing farm-appropriate financial tools, FarmRaise is supporting agriculture that is profitable, equitable and ecologically sound.