Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District

What Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District does

Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District is a county-level government entity in southeastern Minnesota, established in 1962 and headquartered in Preston. Its stated mission is to promote natural resource stewardship by providing educational, technical, and financial assistance to local farmers, landowners, and residents. The district administers a portfolio of conservation programs covering soil health, local water management, agricultural best management practices (AgBMP), well sealing, buffers, and conservation planning, and facilitates landowner access to federal and state programs including EQIP, CRP, CREP, RIM, MAWQCP, and State Cost Share. It also delivers K-12 and community education through Sixth Grade Conservation Day (145 students in a recent year), Envirothon, Conservation Kids, classroom presentations, and two $500 annual scholarships for Fillmore County students.

The district leads the Root River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan — a six-county, 1.3-million-acre One Watershed, One Plan framework (Dodge, Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Winona) approved by BWSR in December 2016 and currently undergoing formal amendment with a 60-day public review period running May 26, 2026 to July 24, 2026. Technology use is modest and purpose-built: PTMApp for watershed prioritization and NRCS practice standards form the core technical toolkit. With approximately 8 staff covering soil health, grazing, nutrient management, water management, and conservation technical assistance, the district operates as a community-led extension of state and federal conservation policy, executing on-farm technical visits, workshops, and field days as the primary service-delivery model.

Financially, the district functions as a public-sector entity funded primarily through state appropriations via BWSR and federal conservation allocations via NRCS. It supplements this with fee-based revenue from plat books ($35), rain barrel kits ($40), gopher machine rentals ($50/day), well water testing kits, and an annual tree sale that moved 13,000+ trees in a recent year, and it administers cost-share contracts on behalf of program participants. Customer segments are predominantly small-scale — farmers, landowners, K-12 students, and county residents — served through direct in-person engagement rather than a digital platform. The district participates in the Alliance to Advance Climate Smart Agriculture grant, with a stated target of 197 Nutrient Management Plans before the grant ends September 1, 2026.

Name

Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District

Legal name

Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District

Website

https://fillmoreswcd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District is a Minnesota county-level government entity established in 1962 that delivers conservation programs, technical assistance, and education to farmers, landowners, students, and residents across Fillmore County and the six-county Root River Watershed.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Soil and Water Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAMAJAH

Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Paper & Forest Products/Forest Management, Reforestation & Carbon Forestry Services

SECONDARYAFAMAMAI

Wetland, Riparian & Buffer Services (within forest landscapes)

Agriculture & Food Production/Forestry & Logging/Forest Ecosystem Services

SECONDARYIMAIAIAG

Erosion Control & Stormwater BMP Maintenance

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Services & Facility Operations/Landscaping, Groundskeeping & Snow Removal

SECONDARYBPAGALAI

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Solutions

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Enterprises & Impact Organizations

Keywords

• Soil health programs
• Watershed management planning
• Agricultural conservation services
• Well water testing
• Conservation education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Preston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government Funding & Grants: Primary funding from Minnesota state appropriations and federal programs (NRCS, BWSR) to administer conservation programs including EQIP, CRP, CREP, RIM, and state cost-share programs.
2. Service Fees: Fees for services including plat books ($35), rain barrel kits ($40), tree sales, gopher machine rental ($50/day), and well water testing.
3. Cost-Share Administration: Administers financial assistance programs where landowners receive cost-share payments for implementing conservation practices; district manages contracts and compliance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fillmore SWCD provides conservation services, technical assistance, and educational programs to support soil, water, and natural resource stewardship in Fillmore County, Minnesota. Its core offerings include conservation planning, cost-share program administration (EQIP, CRP, CREP, RIM), nutrient and grazing management planning, well water testing, tree and rain barrel sales, gopher control equipment rental, plat book publication, and watershed-scale planning leadership across the six-county Root River One Watershed, One Plan area. It also delivers K-12 environmental education programs and student scholarships funded primarily by state appropriations and federal grants.

Product overview

Fillmore SWCD operates as a conservation district offering a portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified software product. The organization provides district-level programs (soil health, local water management, AgBMP, well services, buffers, tree sales, rain barrels) and facilitates access to state and federal conservation programs (EQIP, CRP, CREP, RIM, MAWQCP). Educational initiatives include Envirothon competitions, Sixth Grade Conservation Day, Conservation Kids activities, classroom presentations, and scholarship programs. The district also coordinates the Root River One Watershed, One Plan spanning six counties and 1.3 million acres. Services are provided free or at low cost to landowners and residents; products include equipment rentals (gopher machines) and publications (plat books).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Soil Health Programs District-level program promoting soil health through cover crops, conservation crop rotation, minimum tillage, and no-till practices to improve soil structure and reduce erosion on agricultural land.
• Local Water Management Water resource management services addressing local water quality concerns, erosion control, and watershed protection within Fillmore County.
• Ag Best Management Practices (AgBMP) Program providing low-interest loans and financial assistance for farmers to implement agricultural best management practices addressing water quality concerns.
• Well Water Testing Water testing services for private well owners to check for bacteria and nitrate contamination, with free nitrate tests available.
• Well Sealing Program Program assisting landowners with sealing unused or abandoned wells to prevent groundwater contamination, often accompanied by cost-share funding.
• Buffer Program Program supporting installation and maintenance of vegetated buffers along waterways to reduce runoff and protect water quality.
• Tree Sales Program Annual tree and shrub sales providing landowners with affordable trees for windbreaks, shelterbelts, living snow fences, and wildlife habitat.
• Rain Barrel Sales Sale of rain barrel kits for $40 for rainwater collection to water lawns and gardens, reducing storm water runoff.
• Grazing Management Technical assistance and cost-share programs helping livestock producers implement rotational grazing systems to improve pasture productivity and reduce erosion.
• Nutrient Management Planning Development of Nutrient Management Plans (NRCS Code 590) for agricultural operations to manage application of plant nutrients and manure, working with producers across the service area.
• Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Federal NRCS program providing financial and technical assistance for conservation practices on agricultural land; administered locally through Fillmore SWCD.
• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Federal program offering annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish permanent cover on cropland.
• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) State-federal partnership program targeting high-priority conservation areas with enhanced cost-share and rental payments.
• Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) State program providing farm operators a way to be certified for protecting water quality while maintaining agricultural productivity.
• Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) State program providing permanent easements and cost-share for conservation practices on marginal agricultural land.
• State Cost Share Program State-funded cost-share program helping landowners implement conservation practices.
• Root River One Watershed, One Plan (1W1P) Comprehensive watershed planning initiative spanning six counties (Dodge, Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Winona) covering 1.3 million acres to address water quality issues through 10-year planning cycles.
• Root River Field to Stream Partnership Research and monitoring program studying water quality in the Root River watershed through edge-of-field runoff monitoring with cooperating farmers.
• Volunteer Nitrate Monitoring (VNMN) Program coordinating volunteer monitoring of nitrate levels in private wells and groundwater across the service area.
• Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) State program regulating wetland alterations and requiring avoidance, minimization, or mitigation of impacts to wetlands.
• Watershed Pollutant Load Monitoring Network Monitoring network tracking pollutant loads in waterways throughout the Root River watershed.
• Envirothon Outdoor environmental learning competition for high school students testing knowledge in aquatics, forestry, soil, wildlife, and current environmental topics.
• Sixth Grade Conservation Day Annual educational event since 1987 exposing 6th graders to natural resource topics including forestry, water resources, geology, and agricultural conservation.
• Conservation Kids Educational resources for children including scavenger hunts, seed ball activities, leaf rubbings, and word searches about natural resources.
• Classroom and Event Presentations Interactive educational presentations on topics including streambank erosion, soil health, groundwater movement, fish habitat, water quality, and conservation careers.
• Scholarship Program Two $500 scholarships annually for Fillmore County students pursuing degrees in natural resources, agriculture, or related fields.
• Gopher Machine Rental Rental of gopher control machines at $50 per day providing safe, economical method of controlling gophers through underground bait distribution.
• Plat Books County plat books available for purchase at $35 showing land ownership, property boundaries, and township maps.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rotational grazing systems can increase forage productivity by 50-100%
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Root River Watershed PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2016Multi-county partnership for watershed planning covering Dodge, Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, and Winona counties. The Root River CWMP was approved by BWSR in December 2016 and is undergoing plan renewal amendment for the next 10-year cycle.
• Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinnesota state agency that oversees SWCDs and approves watershed management plans. Provides funding guidance and program requirements for conservation district operations.
• Alliance to Advance Climate Smart AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant program for climate-smart agriculture practices in which Fillmore SWCD is participating. Nutrient Management Planning (NRCS Code 590) is an eligible cost-share practice. Grant funding ends September 1, 2026.
• NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency providing conservation programs including EQIP, CRP, and technical standards. SWCD works with NRCS to implement conservation practices on private lands.
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency conducting watershed monitoring and WRAPS updates for Root River subwatersheds. Coordinates on water quality assessment.
• Houston EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm involved in Root River CWMP development and hosting formal review documents for the plan amendment process.
• Minnesota DNRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDNR divisions including Fisheries, Forestry, and State Parks participate in educational programs and conservation initiatives. Provides technical expertise for Sixth Grade Conservation Day.
• University of Minnesota ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtension service provides educational programming and technical assistance for agriculture and natural resources. Participates in conservation day events.
• Southeast Minnesota SWCDs (Area VII)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEleven county consortium for Envirothon program including Freeborn, Mower, Fillmore, Houston, Winona, Olmsted, Dodge, Rice, Wabasha, Goodhue, and Steele counties.
• Legacy ProgramminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMinnesota state program providing cost-share for liquid manure nutrient sensing technology evaluation in southeastern Minnesota counties.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR): State agency that oversees SWCDs, approves watershed management plans, and channels cost-share funding. Fillmore SWCD operates under BWSR's framework, making BWSR the most direct regulatory and funding counterpart.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Federal agency that funds and sets technical standards for the conservation programs (EQIP, CRP, etc.) that Fillmore SWCD administers locally. Comparable as the federal layer of the same conservation-delivery model.
• Minnesota DNR: State agency that partners with Fillmore SWCD on forestry, fisheries, and education programs (including the Sixth Grade Conservation Day). Comparable as a broader state-level natural resource stewardship body with overlapping constituencies.
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA): State regulatory agency conducting watershed monitoring and WRAPS updates that intersect with Fillmore SWCD's watershed planning work. Comparable as the regulatory environmental-quality counterpart within Minnesota's conservation ecosystem.
• Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD): Statewide umbrella association that supports all 90+ Minnesota SWCDs, including Fillmore. Comparable as the broader governance and advocacy body that defines policy, training, and funding access for SWCDs statewide.

Others

• University of Minnesota Extension: Academic extension service that delivers education and technical assistance alongside Fillmore SWCD at events like Conservation Day and Envirothon. Comparable as an enabling/education partner within the same agricultural and natural resource ecosystem.

Regional players

• Root River Watershed Partnership: Multi-county convening body covering the same Root River watershed as Fillmore SWCD's 1W1P. Comparable as a regional coordination layer focused on water quality that works alongside (and partly through) the SWCD.

Direct peers

• Dodge County Soil and Water Conservation District: One of the six Root River 1W1P partner counties. Provides near-identical services (nutrient management planning, buffers, grazing, well sealing, education) to agricultural producers in the same watershed context.
• Olmsted County Soil and Water Conservation District: Co-convener of the Root River 1W1P and one of the six counties in Fillmore SWCD's watershed plan. Delivers the same portfolio of EQIP/CRP/MAWQCP administration, well water testing, tree sales, and youth education in southeastern Minnesota.
• Houston County Soil and Water Conservation District: Adjacent-county Minnesota SWCD and a co-convener of the Root River One Watershed, One Plan. Operates the same mix of conservation programs, cost-share administration, and education services for farmers and landowners in the same watershed.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fillmore-county-swcd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District