SILT is creating affordable land access for Iowa’s sustainable food farmers.

What if you didn’t have to compete with housing developers or commodities for your land? That’s what a SILT farm is.

Land protected with a SILT conservation easement is available for sale to you for as much as 40 percent less than surrounding land. Your mortgage is lower and your entry into farming is cheaper. You enjoy private ownership of your farm with SILT serving only as a monitor, checking in once a year to make sure everything that is happening on your farm complies with the easement. That’s the trade-off for discounted land, but most farmers find it pretty easy.

Sometimes landowners donate their land to SILT.  

On land SILT owns, you’ll be able to lease the land itself for that same 40% discount but rent-to-own any buildings the landowner donated. Buildings are valued at the assessed rate, not the appraised rate, almost guaranteeing a nearly 30% discount.

You’ll buy the buildings interest-free with no downpayment. Then, after your family is done using the buildings, SILT will buy them back from you. Your monthly rent will include taxes, insurance, and a small SILT admin fee and building maintenance fund, but we believe you’ll agree that the final number is very affordable.

ILLUSTRATIONS: Costing out the difference

Time on the land, not in your truck.

SILT is targeting parcels of all sizes near major metro areas, giving you proximity to a local foods direct-sale, retail, and wholesale market. SILT is an active member of the Iowa Food Systems Coalition, cheering on our allies who are rebuilding the local and regional food economy.

Not quite ready to start farming? 

SILT networks with farmer education organizations such as Practical Farmers of Iowa, MOSES, and the Land Stewardship Project to inform you of every chance to improve your skillset and practices, build a business plan that will succeed, seek out the right markets for you and more.

Fill out our Farm Seeker Survey and sign up for our monthly e-blast to know when farms become available!

Iowa is losing 25 acres of farmland each day to development. America is losing 175 acres per HOUR. 

This is the land our market farmers need. Every year, we allow up to 5 tons of topsoil per acre to blow or wash away. Iowa’s volatile land prices are driving young people away from their dream of becoming fruit and vegetable farmers. We want to protect Iowa farmers and Iowa farmland and protect our farm-based economy. 

More than half of our farmland is owned by people over 65 and one-third is owned by people over 75, yet leaders have not stepped forward to address how we will keep this land producing food for the next generation, protecting future farmers and their families. So we Iowans have to do it. 

What Does SILT Farming Look Like?

  • SILT farmers spend their profits in their local communities.
  • SILT farmers grow to feed us locally and regionally.
  • SILT farmers treat our land like the public resource it is.
  • SILT farms contribute to cleaner water and less polluted air, to healthier soils that stay in place, and to chemical-free vegetables and grains, promoting sustainable agriculture.
  • The land lives on after we’re gone, passed from one person to the next, whether related or not.

Interested in learning more? If you are a landowner, farmer, developer, planner, or just interested citizen, please contact us today. We’ll be happy to discuss more details about affordable land access!

Farm Your Way

SILT Farmers grow what table food they want to and sell it where they want to. Want to grow flowers, seeds, hemp or wine grapes too? Go for it!

If you don’t already agree that our sustainability standards are right for you, then SILT’s not a good fit for you, and that’s OK.

Ready to join our waiting list for a SILT farm? 

Start here to see what it takes!