Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is set to launch the sixth edition of its "Fall Covers for Spring Savings" program. The initiative aims to encourage the use of cover crops, offering a premium discount on crop insurance for eligible participants.

Pre-enrollment for the program begins at 8 a.m. CST on December 4, 2024, allowing users to enter and validate their information. Applications can be submitted starting at 8 a.m. on December 16, 2024, until the program closes at 11:59 p.m. CST on January 15, 2025.

A total of 190,000 acres are available for the upcoming year. In the previous year, this acreage was quickly claimed within an hour, with over 241,650 acres requested by the end of the application period. Funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

"The ‘Fall Covers for Spring Savings' program provides a jump start to initiate what may be a new practice for some producers," stated IDOA Director Jerry Costello II. He emphasized that cover crops play a vital role in improving soil health and reducing erosion.

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Interim Director James Jennings noted that "Illinois' participation in the U.S. Gulf Hypoxia Task Force made it possible for the state to enroll an additional 40,000 acres in 2023." He expressed enthusiasm about offering more acreage again in 2024.

The program targets Illinois acreage seeded with cover crops in fall 2024 that will be planted with insurable crops in 2025. Eligible applicants can receive up to $5 per acre discount on next year's crop insurance premiums based on their policies.

Applicants must certify their cover crops through local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices before applying and need their current FSA-578 and federal crop insurance policy numbers for submission.

This discount initiative seeks to promote additional cover crop acreage not covered by other incentives. IDOA will verify that applied acres are indeed planted with cover crops and forward confirmed applications to USDA-RMA for processing premium discounts.

Applications can be accessed online at https://apps.agr.illinois.gov/BLWR_CoverCrop/ or via the IDOA website until January 15, 2025. For further details, contact IDOA at (217) 782-6297.