A John Deere Publication

A group standing in front of a green John Deere tractor in a field.

Kevin and wife Kayla on their Fonda, Iowa, farm with daughters, Graisyn, Cailyn, Blaire, and Raigyn.

Agriculture, Sustainability February 01, 2025

Tech@Work

Cultivating change: A journey to sustainable farming.

Kevin Wells surveys the Fonda, Iowa, countryside where he farms with his father Mike, uncle Bob, and brother Cody. This year marked a significant turning point as he participated in the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF) program, driven by his desire to combat the erosion he's seen for years. Through enrollment, farmers receive payments for adding or scaling regenerative practices. "The program has been good; they provide 50% payment upfront, which really helped with new purchases," Kevin says.

Using cover crops, Kevin aims to enhance soil health while protecting water resources. Cover crops hold nutrients in place and improve soil structure, allowing for better water retention.

The one-year contract offers flexibility, allowing him to explore this new avenue without long-term commitment. "It's definitely worth it," he adds, noting the losses he faced from conventional tillage practices after a big rain.

Three years ago, he started to shift to John Deere equipment. That proved beneficial, especially with John Deere Operations Center™ streamlining his record-keeping, and an API (application programming interface) connection with SWOF making enrollment easy. "It's nice to have all your data in one place," he says. It took me less than 10 minutes to gather all the historical data and boundaries needed to enroll in SWOF."

With four daughters, Kevin is committed to leaving the land in better condition. "I want our land to be around for a long time," he said, hopeful that his efforts will pay off.

By prioritizing water quality, he's improving his own farm's health, but also contributing to the well-being of the local community and the environment.

For more information on the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, visit their website at www.theoutcomesfund.com. ‡