As conservation farming techniques become the norm in Scott County, the Scott Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) wants to provide you the right tools for the job. As part of this effort, the District hosts a robust equipment rental program for farmers to utilize, negating the need to invest in expensive equipment. Items on the rental list include a 6 row cover crop inter-seeder, 15ft John Deere No-Till Drill, 10ft Great Plains No-Till Drill, and the 10ft Brillion Sure Stand Seeder. Our list has options that will adapt to your farming practices.

Conservation tillage, including no-till, is also becoming more common in Scott County due to its economic and environmental benefits. No-till leaves productive topsoil in place by keeping crop residue in the fields. It also increases the water-infiltration rate of the soil, so more water is available for plants and there is less erosion from runoff and wind. On the SWCD’s equipment rental list are the Great Plains and John Deere No-Till Drills. Both drills work great for farmers getting into no-till, and for farmers who have been doing no-till for years.

The equipment rental program is not only for those planting crops. The Great Plains drill is an excellent choice for establishing and restoring native prairies or pastures and the Brillion Seeder is great for seeding native grasses and alfalfa.

In addition to large equipment, smaller, landscaping equipment is also available for rent. Small equipment includes loppers, saws, hand seeders, and weed wrenches. Weed wrenches are equipped to remove buckthorn, root and all.

When you rent equipment with the SWCD, you’re not just getting the physical tools to improve your operation or help you finish your project. You’re also getting the technical expertise of the SWCD staff. Scott Schneider, Resource Conservationist II, heads the rental program at the SWCD office and is available to renters throughout the process for questions on equipment use, features, specifications, and more! Rented equipment will also be delivered right to your seeding or project site and picked up when you are finished.

Rental rates for the seeders and drills are $8 an acre; plus a minimum drop charge of $120 which covers the first 15 acres of use. In addition, a $50 refundable security deposit is also required and will be returned when the equipment is returned without damage.

Rental rates for loppers and saws require a $25 refundable security deposit. Weed wrench and hand seeder rental requires a $50 refundable security deposit. All security deposits will be returned when the equipment is returned without damage.

With the help of the rental program, farmers in Scott County are able to do more to conserve their soil and water resources. For more information or to be added to the equipment rental schedule, call the Scott SWCD office, or visit our equipment rental page on our website.