|
For Immediate Release: Monday, Sept. 10, 2018
More than 700 farmers using cover crops on 170,000
acres participated in 1st year of the program
DES MOINES – Iowa
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today encouraged farmers using cover crops
and not receiving state or federal cost share to consider participating in a
state program that provides a $5 per acre premium reduction on crop insurance.
Farmers who plant cover crops this fall may be eligible for the reduction on
their crop insurance in 2019.
This
is the second year of the program that is aimed at increasing acres of cover
crops in the state. More than 700 farmers used cover crops on nearly 170,000
acres last fall in the inaugural year of the demonstration project.
“It’s
great to see the level of interest in this new and innovative program, both by
farmers here in Iowa and by other states interested in using it as a model. We
see this incentive as way to scale up cover crop adoption by reaching a broader
group of farmers and landowners,” Naig said.
Program
information and the online sign-up and application process for farmers and
landowners to certify eligible land for the program can be found at https://www.cleanwateriowa.org/covercropdemo.
In
an effort to streamline the sign-up process, IDALS is in the process of
developing a new, online sign-up format. At this time, sign-up is currently not
open, but interested participants can get more background on the program and to
help plan their cover crop seeding this fall. Farmers are encouraged
to wait to apply until their cover crop seeding has been completed.
Applications
will be taken until January 15, 2019. Cover crop acres currently enrolled in
state and/or federal programs are not eligible for this program.
“We
recently announced that the popular statewide cost share program that provides
assistance to farmers using cover crops is closed and this crop insurance
incentive program offers another option for growers that were limited in acres
or were not able to receive funding through that program,” Naig said.
The
premium reduction will be available for fall-planted cover crops with a
spring-planted cash crop. Some policies may be excluded, such as Whole-Farm
Revenue Protection or those covered through written agreements. Participating
farmers must follow all existing good farming practices required by their
policy and work with their insurance agent to maintain eligibility.
The
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) worked with the
United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA),
who oversees the federal crop insurance program, to establish the three year
demonstration project.
Crop
insurance is an integral part of the farm safety net that helps farmers manage
the risks associated with growing a crop and provides protection for farmers
impacted by severe weather and challenging growing conditions. Cover crops can
help prevent erosion and improve water quality and soil health, among other
benefits.
Background
on Iowa Water Quality Initiative
The Iowa
Water Quality Initiative was established in 2013 to help implement the Nutrient
Reduction Strategy, which is a science and technology based approach to
achieving a 45 percent reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus losses to our
waters. The strategy brings together both point sources, such as
municipal wastewater treatment plants and industrial facilities, and nonpoint
sources, including farm fields and urban stormwater runoff to address these
issues.
The
Initiative seeks to harness the collective ability of both private and public
resources and organizations to deliver a clear and consistent message to
stakeholders to reduce nutrient loss and improve water quality.
The initiative is seeing
some exciting results. This fall, 2,800 farmers invested an estimated $9
million in funding to match $5 million in state cost share funds to adopt cover
crops, no-till or strip till, or use a nitrification inhibitor when applying
fall fertilizer. Participants include more than 1,000 farmers using a practice
for the first time and nearly 1,800 past users who are trying cover crops again
and are receiving a reduced rate of cost share.
A total
of 64 demonstration projects are currently located across the state to help
implement and demonstrate water quality practices. This includes 14 targeted
watershed projects, seven projects focused on expanding the use and innovative
delivery of water quality practices and 43 urban water quality demonstration
projects. More than 250 organizations are participating in these
projects. These partners will provide $42.2 million to go with the $31.5
million in state funding going to these projects.
More than $420 million in funding has been
documented for efforts in support of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy last
year. This represents a $32 million increase of funding in support of Iowa
water quality programs and conservation efforts over the previous year.
More
information about the initiative can be found at www.CleanWaterIowa.org.
About RMA
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency
(RMA) serves America’s agricultural producers through effective, market-based
risk management tools to strengthen the economic stability of agricultural
producers and rural communities. RMA manages the Federal Crop Insurance
Corporation (FCIC) to provide innovative crop insurance products to America’s
farmers and ranchers. Approved Insurance Providers (AIP) sell and service Federal
crop insurance policies through a public-private partnership with RMA. RMA
backs the AIPs who share the risks associated with catastrophic losses due to
major weather events.
-30-
For more information, contact Dustin Vande Hoef, (515) 281-3375 or (515) 326-1616 (cell) or Dustin.VandeHoef@IowaAgriculture.gov
|
