By Kate Hansen
Cover crops are a conservation practice used by many Iowa farmers, with benefits ranging from improving soil health to protecting water quality.
Farmers who planted cover crops this fall without financial assistance from state or federal cost-share programs may be eligible for a $5/acre discount on their 2021 crop insurance premium. The program is administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA).
Applications will be accepted through Jan. 15 and the process is entirely online. Interested producers should go to apply.cleanwateriowa.org to apply.
To be eligible, a farmer’s cover crops must not be harvested for grain, must be terminated according to RMA guidelines, and be followed by an insured crop. IDALS will determine eligibility, verify acres and cover crops, and relay that information to RMA. If enrollment is approved, the farmer will see the discount reflected on their 2021 crop insurance premium.
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