Incentives for cover crops available in Iowa

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is offering increased cost-share incentives for cover crop planting through the state's Water Quality Initiative (WQI).

Farmers who plant cover crops for the first time are eligible for $30 per acre. Farmers who are returning participants can receive $20 per acre. These figures represent increases of $5 per acre from last year.

Additionally, producers transitioning acres to no-till or strip-till are eligible for $10 per acre. New users can also receive $3 per acre for utilizing a nitrogen inhibitor when applying fall fertilizer. Cost-share funding through this program is limited to 160 acres per participant.

Last year, more than 3,300 farmers and landowners enrolled in the cost share program.

Farmers may submit applications through their local Soil

and Water Conservation District offices.

Seed corn cost share

In addition, cost-share applications for planting cover crops on seed corn acres are being accepted through the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative.

Last year, nearly $464,000 in financial assistance was provided to 137 growers through the initiative for planting cover crops on more than 32,000 acres.

Funding incentives available to seed corn growers are $15 per acre for winter-hardy cover crops and $10 per acre for winterkill cover crops. An additional $5 per acre incentive is available for first-time cover crop users.

Financial assistance provided by the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative is stackable with private funds. Visit www.sustainableseedcorn.org for more information.

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