Crop insurance discount program applications now available to Iowa farmers

(ABC 6 News) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, is encouraging farmers who planted cover crops this fall to apply to the state’s crop insurance discount program.

Eligible Iowa farmers and landowners can receive a $5 per acre discount on spring crop insurance premiums for cover crop acres located within the state. To qualify, cover crop acres can NOT be enrolled in other state or federal cost share programs.

Farmers must apply by Jan. 13, 2023. For more information, CLICK HERE.

“Iowa farmers are continuing to invest in and implement proven conservation practices, like cover crops, to enrich soil health and improve water quality,” said Secretary Naig. “This successful program was started in Iowa and has become a model for other states as it has been an effective incentive to get more cover crops planted.”

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship says cover crops help improve soil health, prevent soil erosion and lock in nutrients, especially during extreme weather events. Cover crops are a proven way to reduce the loss of nitrogen and phosphorous from the soil, which helps to improve water quality. Cover crops also offer weed control and livestock grazing benefits for farmers and landowners.

This is the 6th year the Crop Insurance Discount Program is being jointly administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA).

To date, approximately 1,800 farmers have enrolled nearly 1 million acres of cover crops in the program.