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Cover Crops Premium Discount Program
Illinois Department of Agriculture
"Fall Covers for Spring Savings"
Cover Crop Premium Discount Program
Pre-Enrollment Period starts at 8:00 A.M. CST, December 4, 2023
Program Submittal Period starts at 8:00 A.M. CST, December 15, 2023
Program Closes at 11:59 P.M. CST, January 15, 2024
Program Rules:
This Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) Cover Crop Premium Discount Program is being offered to promote additional acres of cover crops that are not covered by other state and federal program incentives (e.g., EQIP, CSP and state cost share). The program is applicable for acreage in Illinois seeded to cover crops in the fall of 2023 that will be planted to an insurable crop in 2024. Eligible applicants will receive a premium discount up to a $5 per acre on the following year's crop insurance, depending on their crop insurance policy, for every cover crop acre enrolled and verified in the program.
New this year, users will be able to enter their information into the Cover Crop Premium Discount Program Application and validate it during a pre-enrollment period starting at 8:00 A.M. CST on December 4, 2023. Applications can be submitted once the program opens at 8:00 A.M. on December 15, 2023. Applications can be saved and edited at any time, prior to submittal. Applications are due to IDOA by 11:59 P.M. January 15, 2024, and must be completed in full to be eligible. Application assistance is available through your local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) office or the IDOA Bureau of Land and Water Resources at 217-782-6297.
Application requirements include applicant contact information, current FSA 578 with verified cover crop acres, crop insurance policy number(s), field, farm, tract, common land unit (CLU) numbers, and field acres seeded to cover crops in fall 2023. This information can be found on individual participant’s federal "Report of Commodities" form (FSA- 578). It is highly recommended to reference the FSA-578 form for those interested in applying for this program. The premium discount will be applied based on the following year’s crop insurance coverage and acreage report you file for federal crop insurance, taking into consideration the insured percent share. Ensuring the field designations match is mandatory to receiving the premium discount.
IDOA will verify applications and respective acreage. IDOA may contact applicants for additional clarifying information. Applicants must maintain documentation on cover crops that have been seeded (e.g., seed bills) and utilize Midwest Cover Crop Council - Cover Crop Tool recommendations. This includes seeding dates, appropriate seeding rates and seed mixes to ensure objectives of the cover crop are being met. A cover crop is considered: "a non-grain harvestable, non-insurable conservation/agronomic practice seeded in the fall to protect and improve soil and water quality." To ensure the practice achieves the desired results, no full width tillage/termination of the cover crop in the fall is allowed. Management/termination of the cover crops must be done in the spring in accordance with the most recent version of the USDA-NRCS Cover Crop Termination Guidelines. This guidance not only informs proper management of cover crops but must also be followed to maintain eligibility for federal crop insurance.
Only acres in cover crops (absent other state or federally incentivized cover crops) will be eligible for the premium discount. Confirmed applications will be forwarded to USDA-Risk Management Agency (RMA) for processing premium discounts on crop insurance premium invoices for the 2024 crop. Applicants must certify that by signing up for this program, they give IDOA permission to share the information provided to the USDA-RMA for administering the benefit to the beneficiary as documented on the application. Applicants also convey permission to IDOA or SWCD representative(s) access to the property enrolled, if necessary, to verify cover crop establishment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I access, complete, and submit the application?
Please see the “How To” Guide for help through all steps of the application process from logging in and filling out the application to submitting the application. If you still have questions after reviewing the “How To” Guide, please reach out to your local Soil & Water Conservation District or you can contact the IDOA Bureau of Land and Water Resources by email at AGR.CoverCrops@Illinois.gov or call 217-782-6297.
Why do you need information from my federal acreage report (FSA-578)?
IDOA must provide information on eligible acres to the Risk Management Agency (USDA-RMA) in a form that is recognizable to their process. Collecting information consistent with their forms will streamline the process and make it easier to process the premium discount timely and accurately.
Do I need to report cover crop acres to FSA?
Yes, if there is a discrepancy with the submitted Common Land Unit information (CLU) IDOA has a direct path to resolve the discrepancy in a timely manner.
What if my insurance company doesn't offer this program?
The USDA-RMA has agreements in place with individual Approved Insurance Providers (AIP) who have opted in to participate in this program. Any eligible applicant that utilizes the services of AIPs that have opted to offer this program will be considered eligible for the IDOA cover crop premium discount program. Applicants that use AIPs that have not elected to participate, will not be eligible for this program.
What if I sign-up but change my mind on what fields I seed to cover crops?
Applicants should be sure of which fields are seeded to cover crops before applying. If necessary, the application could be submitted after seeding, but before sign-up closes, to prevent a change in fields enrolled.
Can I utilize this producer premium reduction on acres cost-shared through other state and federal programs?
No. Acres signed up through this program cannot be currently enrolled in other state and federal cost-share funding or incentives. This program is designed to incentivize additional acres of cover crops beyond those supported by IDOA and/or USDA- Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA NRCS). However, this program would allow acres in addition to cost-shared acres. For example, if a farmer has 160 acres enrolled in a state program and decides to seed 320 acres of cover crops, the additional 160 acres will be eligible for the Cover Crop Premium Discount Program.
How will IDOA verify eligible acres?
IDOA will use a combination of tools to verify acres in cover crops applied for through this program. Applications will be reviewed for overlap in enrollment of other federal and state programs. IDOA will then employ a variety of tools at their discretion. Applicants may be asked to provide further documentation (e.g., seed bills, seeding method, and timing of planting) to confirm applied fields were seeded to cover crops.
Can I graze or harvest forage from my cover crop?
Yes, this program and federal crop insurance programs allow for managed haying and grazing of cover crops if this management does not jeopardize the intended function of the cover crop and that termination guidelines developed by USDA-RMA and USDA-NRCS are followed.
Can cover crops in this program be harvested for grain?
No, the harvest of grain from cover crops is not the intended use of cover crops and would run contrary to federal crop insurance termination deadlines and insurable crop determinations.
What if I don't utilize federally subsidized crop insurance?
This program is only for those with coverage through the federal crop insurance program and only eligible for those that are assessed a premium for the coverage. In instances where no premium liability is due or absent enrollment in the federal crop insurance program, the farmer/landowner would not be eligible for this program. There may be other state or federal programs available for these producers.
What is the limit on acreage an individual farmer can apply for?
This premium discount program will not impose caps on eligible acres (absent state/federal program acres) for individual applications. For example, a farmer who applies with 800 acres of cover crops with no acreage enrolled in other state/federal programs is eligible for the entire 800 acres.
How much funding does IDOA have for this program? What happens if sign-ups exceed available funding?
IDOA has established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with USDA-RMA to fund this program up to 100,000 acres; 40,000 additional acres are available from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency via Gulf Hypoxia Funding for a total of 140,000 acres available under the 2024 program. IDOA will select applications on a first come, first serve basis pending verification of meeting program rules.
Do I sign up for this program through the USDA-NRCS or USDA-FSA offices?
No, this program is set up independent from traditional state or federal programs administered through the USDA-NRCS or USDA-FSA offices. If you need assistance in applying for this program, please consult your local SWCD office staff or the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) Bureau of Land and Water Resources at 217-782-6297.