We recognize and promote regenerative practices that build resilient farms and supply chains, including:

• Cover crops
• Reduced-till / no-till (conservation tillage)
• Nutrient Management Plans (NRCS 590 standard)

• The grain grown on the enrolled acres must come to a DeLong Co., Inc. facility.
• Agronomy inputs for the program be done through The DeLong Co., Inc. where feasible.
• Fields must be HEL and Wetlands compliant.
• Ensure the practices on the acres you are enrolling are not currently enrolled and have not previously been enrolled in another federally funded program.
• If these conditions apply, an enhancement to the practice will have to made in order to qualify for our program.

Contracts are one-year commitments that terminate at the end of each calendar year. Each year will require a re-enrollment.

Enrollment windows are announced on our site and by email. If the current cycle is closed, you can still contact us to be notified when the next opens.

Payments are made for verified practices within program terms and funding availability. Documentation and program compliance are required.

No. You can enroll as many or as few as you like.

Grown Climate Smart is a program of The DeLong Co., Inc. DeLong administers grower enrollment and verification, provides agronomy and merchandising support where feasible, and connects climate-smart grain to participating industry partners.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial assistance to help farmers implement conservation practices. It also publishes practice standards—like the NRCS 590 standard for Nutrient Management.

No. The Grown Climate Smart team will collect the required information from you during the application process and submit it to NRCS on your behalf. You will not need to contact your local NRCS office directly.

Reductions vary by crop, soils, management, and weather. We focus on practices proven to improve soil health and reduce emissions intensity. Credible estimates require field-specific data and accepted methods. We’ll guide participants on what to track and how results are reported.

• Reduce erosion and runoff; improve water infiltration
• Build soil organic matter and aggregate stability
• Cycle nutrients and suppress weeds
• Support biological activity and soil biodiversity
• Potential fuel/labor savings when integrated with reduced till

Conservation tillage limits soil disturbance to conserve moisture, protect structure, and reduce erosion. Benefits can include improved soil health, steadier yields across weather swings, and savings in time, fuel, and equipment wear.

No. To be eligible for payment:

• Practices must be approved on the NRCS CPA-52 (Environmental Evaluation) first, and implemented during the 2026 calendar year.
• Reduced tillage or strip till completed after harvest in fall 2026 would be eligible—provided the practice is included in your approved CPA-52.

A photo or copy of your nutrient management plan or receipt will help us verify your nutrient management practice.

It’s the “4R” principles—Right source, Right rate, Right time, Right place—to meet crop needs, protect water and air quality, and optimize ROI. Plans use soil tests, yield goals, and field history to guide decisions.

No—those are product certifications. Grown Climate Smart is a practice-based incentive/supply-chain program that can complement other certifications but doesn’t replace them.

No. A submitted application is not guaranteed payment until the land and practices are approved through the Environmental Evaluation process.

No. Practices completed prior to a completed evaluation are INELIGIBLE FOR PAYMENT. If a producer wishes to receive funding for a practice, they must wait for confirmation from the Grown Climate Smart team.

No. The intent of the Grown Climate Smart program is to support soil health. Grazing or harvesting forage from cover crops is not allowed, as it may compromise the soil health benefits the program is designed to promote.

No. Harvesting grain from cover crops is not permitted, as it goes against the intended purpose of cover crops and may conflict termination deadlines and NRCS rules.