Enrollment Open for Practical Farmers’ Cover Crop Cost-Share Program
Program celebrates 10 years of supporting farmers planting cover crops
Contact: Elizabeth Wilhelm | Media Relations Coordinator | (515) 232-5661 | elizabeth.wilhelm@practicalfarmers.org
AMES, Iowa (Aug. 1, 2024) — Enrollment is now open for Practical Farmers of Iowa’s 2024 cover crop cost-share program. Midwestern farmers interested in seeding fall cover crops can get payment rates of $10 or $15 per acre on an unlimited number of acres, along with personalized agronomic support.
Now in its tenth year, the program has helped thousands of people across the Midwest plant cover crops.
“We’ve worked hard to build a strong program, one that provides the support farmers need to get covers in their fields,” says Morgan Jennings, PFI’s field crops viability coordinator. “Cover crops are a great entry point for farmers interested in conservation. Beyond the soil, water and other ecological benefits, our farmers tell us they also see reduced chemical input costs, boosted yields and increased forage availability.”
Both farmers with a history of cover crop use and those seeding cover crops for the first time are encouraged to apply. Non-organic corn and soybean farmers in Iowa and parts of Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin are eligible.
Farmers who enroll also receive a complimentary one-year membership to PFI. In 2023, 970 cost-share participants became PFI members for the first time, giving them direct access to a community of seasoned cover croppers.
“In 2023, we saw a huge spike in interest, with nearly twice as many farmers enrolling in the cost-share than in the 2022 season,” says Morgan. “We try to make our program as easy to use as possible, keeping the paperwork to a minimum.”
Edward Morse, who farms in western Iowa, began participating in the cost-share in 2019.
“The program is simple, straightforward and makes cover crops more economical for both grain and livestock producers,” says Edward Morse. “We benefit by improving our soil health and weed suppression, while also reducing erosion and improving water quality and overall conditions in our environment.”
The application form only takes about 10 minutes to complete, and farmers can stack the cost-share with other publicly funded programs (but cannot dually enroll acres in another private cost-share program). Full details and the application form are available at practicalfarmers.org/cover-crop-cost-share.
The deadline to apply is December 2, 2024. For questions, to check eligibility or for help getting signed up, farmers should contact our cover crops cost-share team by emailing covercrops@practicalfarmers.org, calling the office at (515) 232-5661 or visiting practicalfarmers.org/cover-crop-cost-share.
Funding for this program is made possible by ADM, Cargill, Lifeline Foods, PepsiCo and Unilever.
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About Practical Farmers: Practical Farmers of Iowa is a nonprofit with more than 8,000 members that equips farmers to build resilient farms and communities. We create learning opportunities via farmer-led events, on-farm research and educational content through our robust network of farmers. We also provide funding and technical assistance to help farmers adopt regenerative farming practices and grow farm businesses. Our vision is an Iowa with healthy soil, healthy food, clean air, clean water, resilient farms and vibrant communities. To learn more, visit http://practicalfarmers.org.