Farmers who planted cover crops this year will be eligible for a premium benefit from the Agriculture Department under most crop insurance policies, the USDA announced on Tuesday. The new $5-per-acre assistance is the latest in a series of coronavirus relief efforts being offered to farmers. The benefit would essentially lower a grower’s insurance bill.
Richard Flournoy, the acting administrator of the USDA’S Risk Management Agency, said the pandemic has “made it financially challenging for many producers to maintain cover crop systems,” which are grown to boost soil health and prevent erosion. The so-called Pandemic Cover Crop Program would support growers with almost any insurance policy if they planted a qualifying cover crop such as rye, oats or radish during the 2021 crop year. A few major farm states, including Illinois and Iowa, already offer support programs for farmers who plant cover crops. But growers in those states can still receive the federal benefit as well, the USDA stated.
Farmers have until June 15 to file a cover crop acreage report with the Farm Service Agency to receive the assistance. This program could help aerial application operations that spread cover crops for their farmer/customers. The aerial application of cover crops is advantageous since it allows for their application prior to harvest of the cash crop, providing more time for the cover crop to grow than terrestrial applications. The additional timing allows for deeper root growth for soil breakup and the development of more nutrients and hydration for the soil.
