1.  Cover Crop Premium Discount Program

•  Overview: A collaborative effort by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), The Nature Conservancy, and the USDA Risk Management Agency to incentivize cover crop adoption by offering crop insurance premium discounts.

•  Eligibility: Farmers in designated counties who plant cover crops on owned or rented acres.

• Benefits: Eligible participants receive a $5 per acre discount on their crop insurance premium for each acre of cover crops planted.

• Application Process: Applications are typically due by mid-March or when available funds are exhausted.

• More Information: ISDA Cover Crop Premium Discount Program
   

2.  Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

• Overview: Administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), EQIP offers financial and technical assistance for conservation practices, including cover crops.

• Eligibility: Agricultural producers and non-industrial private forestland owners.

• Benefits: Financial assistance to implement conservation practices tailored to specific land needs.

• Application Process: Continuous sign-ups with specific ranking periods for funding considerations.

• More Information: Indiana NRCS EQIP

 

These programs aim to encourage the use of cover crops, thereby improving soil health, enhancing water quality, and promoting sustainable farming practices in Indiana. We will keep this page updated as new programs are released.