The program offers a $5 per acre discount on a farmer's 2022 crop insurance premium, but not more than the full premium price. The program, offered by USDA's Risk Management Agency, assists farmers in maintaining cover crop systems despite financial challenges posed by the pandemic. It is part of USDA's "Pandemic Assistance for Producers" initiative, a collection of programs designed to provide financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and producers who experienced market disruptions during the COVID-19 period.
"Cultivating cover crops requires long-term investment, and the economic challenges of the pandemic made it financially difficult for many producers to maintain cover crop systems," said Marcia Bunger, RMA administrator. "Producers use cover crops to improve soil health and gain other agronomic benefits, and this program will reduce producers' overall premium bill to help ensure producers can continue to practice climate-smart agriculture."
Beginning in 2021, the pandemic cover crop program was available, and crop insurance producers received $59.5 million in premium subsidies for 12.2 million acres of cover crops.
Producers will automatically receive the benefit if they file the Report of Acreage form (FSA-578) at their local Farm Service Agency county office by March 15, 2022. To file the report, make an appointment with your local USDA service center. Locations can be found at bit.ly/3hrQnIr.
You must provide the following information as part of your acreage report:
- Cover crop variety or type
- The number of acres planted in cover crop
- The cover crop's approximate boundaries are depicted on a map
- Dates for planting
- When applicable, use a planting pattern
- Shares of the producer
- Irrigation techniques
The cover crop fields reported on the Report of Acreage form must correspond to the fields reported to the insurance company for crop insurance policies.