Applications are now open for the Cover Crop Premium Discount Program, a program designed to promote the planting of additional acres of cover crops not covered by other state and federal incentives.
Hoosier farmers who apply and plant cover crops on owned or rented acres will receive a five dollar per acre crop insurance premium discount. Trevor Laureys, Director of the Division of Soil Conservation at the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, said the program is designed to encourage first time cover crop planters.
“We really want to incentivize folks to try cover crops, to help mitigate the risk of trying something new in their operation,” he said. “Cover crops increase water infiltration and benefit soil health by improving water holding capacity. So this is just one of many pieces to the soil health system of our farms.”
Seeding of cover crops must follow best agronomic practices in terms of appropriate seeding rates, seed mixes and seeding dates to ensure objectives of the cover crop are being met. Laureys said that a field staff does random spot checks of about 10 percent of the enrolled acres to ensure they’re valid.
The program is funded by a Clean Water Indiana grant and the Cummins Foundation. Laureys said that due to the nature of the grant, the program is only available in 26 out of 92 counties in Indiana.
2024 marks the fourth year the program has been implemented. Last year, 117 farmers participated in the program, translating to more than 35,000 acres of cover crops planted in the watershed. This year, the state is hoping to incentivize farmers to plant an additional 30,000 acres of cover crops.
Farmers may apply to the ISDA website until March 15 th or when available funds are exhausted.
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