Funding is available now for farmers interested in beginning or continuing the practice of cover crop utilization in their fields, but eligible participants need to sign up before this year’s funding is allocated. Black Hawk Lake Watershed Coordinator Ethan Thies says there are many programs through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other similar agencies, so most producers or landowners will qualify for at least one.
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Iowa’s cover crop cost-sharing programs were established about a decade ago, and Thies says participation has grown year after year.
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Cover crop implementation usually doesn’t carry much labor cost, as applications are typically done by third-party companies or alongside other field work. Between labor and seed purchases, cover crop implementation normally runs around $30 per acre, and that is before cost-sharing programs are incorporated. Thies says the water quality and soil health benefits from using cover crops are substantial.
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Thies adds there isn’t a formal deadline to apply for cover crop cost-sharing. However, there is a funding cap for many of the programs, so once the money is gone, producers will have to wait for the following year to apply. Farmers wanting to learn more are encouraged to contact their local USDA office.