Illinois Ag Groups Support Expanded Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program

Feb 16, 2024

The IL Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Farm Bureau and American Farmland Trust are seeking expanded state investment into a popular program designed to promote cover crop adoption throughout the state. The Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program provides a $5 per acre crop insurance premium discount for farmers who plant non-cash crops in the fall to promote soil health and keep nutrients in the field.

Cover crops are one of the most effective in-field conservation practices that Illinois farmers can adopt; they protect soil from erosion, reduce compaction, and absorb excess nutrients. Additionally, by capturing C02 from the atmosphere during growth and returning it to the soil during decomposition, they are a key climate-smart agricultural practice.

The Fall Covers for Spring Savings program started with a modest 50,000-acre target in 2019. These acres were allocated in 12 days. In the 2023 crop year, 160,000 acres were made available through a combination of state and Hypoxia Task Force funds. These acres were spoken for in a matter of hours. Advocates say now it is time to expand the program to 500,000 acres.

Click here to see more...

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.