Compeer Financial is teaming up with PepsiCo and other industry partners to offer a pilot leasing program for strip-till equipment, helping offset upfront financial costs for farmers implementing soil conservation practices on their farms. Through RegenLend, Compeer Financial will lease the equipment to farmers, and PepsiCo will cover two annual lease payments to share the cost of investment with farmers. The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) aided in the development of this program, and the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF) are operational partners in its management and operations.
"As a leading farm lender, we listen to the priorities and concerns of farmers we serve. Soil conservation practices continue to evolve and opportunities abound for farmers to learn about and improve soil health. RegenLend is a program designed to use supply chain incentives to help bridge the financial investment in soil health technology, such as new strip tillage systems, that can be a burden to farmers' bottom line," said Bryan Stanek, managing director of new markets with Compeer Financial. "We are proud to work with PepsiCo in creating unique programs like RegenLend as they are committed to supporting our farmers in their journey to realizing the long-term gains their land and operations can experience from improved soil health."
Strip-till can be an initial steppingstone for farmers exploring soil conservation practices to improve soil health on their farms. Strip tillage can improve soil health and contribute to long-term yield and water retention enhancements. The practice also can deliver fuel and labor cost savings on the farm through reduced trips across the field, improved efficiency in preparing the seedbed for planting and more precise fertilizer placement.
However, strip-till also comes with an upfront investment in equipment that can present a barrier to many farmers. The new RegenLend program addresses this barrier by leveraging a unique collaboration between the farmer, an ag lender and the food value chain.
"We are constantly looking for ways to collaborate with companies across the value chain to support farmers' efforts in producing a sustainable food supply. The RegenLend program is one example of how we are collaborating on unique programs that help farmers navigate rising costs and weather challenges so together we can build a more resilient food system," said Caitlin Colegrove, PepsiCo's sustainable agriculture lead for North America.
"Every farmer's conservation journey is different, and they need a variety of solutions to succeed," said Vincent Gauthier, senior manager of agriculture at EDF. "Financing that helps farmers invest in conservation equipment and technology is a critical part of that toolbox."
Using its expertise in innovative market-based sustainability solutions, EDF collaborated with Compeer Financial, SWOF and PepsiCo to develop the RegenLend pilot program to unlock investments and help farmers navigate the transition to conservation farming practices.
Dan Yeoman, managing director of SWOF, said, "Farmers are increasingly looking to practices like strip-till that improve soil health, reduce erosion, and preserve their land for the next generation. Innovative programs like RegenLend provide new, scalable pathways to support farmers through that transition — delivering long-term benefits for their operations, their watersheds, and the food supply chain."
In its initial pilot year, the RegenLend program is available to farmers interested in leasing strip-till equipment to implement soil conservation practices on at least 600 acres. More information is available at compeer.com/RegenLend.
