WASHINGTON, DC – Land stewards such as ranchers and farmers have just been offered another incentive, geared to enhance what land and resource management practices they already have in place.
USDA’s Risk Management Agency has announced an expansion to federal crop insurance for cover crops.
The changes signal encouraging opportunities for farmers and ranchers practicing conservation on their operations.
This month, RMA announced it will be offering the Pandemic Cover Crop Program for a second year. The program offers a $5 per acre discount on a producer’s crop insurance premium if they planted a qualifying cover crop ahead of their 2022 crop. If a cover crop variety is reportable to the Farm Service Agency, it is eligible for the program.
To receive the benefit, producers need to have a Report of Acreage form filed for their cover crops by March 15, also the crop insurance sales closing date for most spring crops.
Kate Hansen with the Center for Rural Affairs in Nebraska, says, “Producers across the country are implementing new conservation practices to better steward their land,” adding, “These recent developments from USDA’s Risk Manangement Agency to support these efforts are encouraging.”
