1. Soil Health, Cover Crops & Conservation Policy
Naveen Adusumilli
Extension Economist
LSU AgCenter

2. Existing incentives through EQIP
Cover crop
Reduced-till
No-till
Total assistance, all years
$60-$70/acre up to five years
$14/acre up to three years
$13/acre up to three years X
$300/acre
$42/acre
$39/acre
$342/acre
$339/acre

3. Incentives for cover crops are available through Conservation Stewardship Program as well
5 year contract; annual payments
Maximum annual payment—$40,000 per producer

4. Cover Crops and Crop Insurance
Insurance for a commercial crop following cover crop depends on three criteria
Cover crop - meets the definition
was planted in the last 12 months
managed and terminated according to NRCS guidelines

5. Cover crop definition Crop planted for Erosion control
Soil improvement
Other conservation purposes

6. FSA, RMA, & NRCS guidelines indicate
Cover crops can be planted
after a planted crop
into a standing crop
after prevented planting acreage
with no subsequent crop planted
before a subsequent crop
Terminate cover crops before the subsequent planted crop emerges (irrigated and non-irrigated cropland)

7. For non-irrigated croplands

8. If’s and but’s
An FSA policy change – now allows cover crops to be hayed or grazed
Crop reported as cover and harvested for any other purpose – it is not considered a cover crop ($$)
Weather caused delays in termination of cover crops- can be ground for ineligibility – some leeway now!!
Crops reported as cover are not counted toward total cropland

9. Thankyou Naveen Adusumilli Extension Economist LSU AgCenter