Midwest Farmers Can Earn Up to $15 Per Acre with Practical Farmers Cover Crop Program

Practical Farmers of Iowa is offering farmers in six Midwest states cost-share dollars for planting cover crops. The program provides $15 per acre on an unlimited number of acres, as well as one-on-one agronomic support. Over 2,400 farmers received $10 million in funds to plant cover crops on more than 900,000 acres last year.

Sean Dengler, the crop nutrition coordinator at Practical Farmers of Iowa, said that the program helps offset the cost of planting cover crops and gives farmers the support they need. 'We know cover crops can reduce erosion, suppress weeds and improve soil health,' he said. 'This program helps offset the cost while giving farmers the support they need to make cover crops work on their farm.'

Farmers who participate must establish a cover crop that will precede a corn or soybean crop the following spring. The cover crop can be a single species or a multi-species mix, and eligible species can winterkill or overwinter.