SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The IL Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Farm Bureau and American Farmland Trust are seeking expanded state investment into a popular program designed to promote cover crop adoption throughout the state. The Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program provides a $5 per acre crop insurance premium discount for farmers who plant non-cash crops in the fall to promote soil health and keep nutrients in the field.
Cover crops are one of the most effective in-field conservation practices that Illinois farmers can adopt; they protect soil from erosion, reduce compaction, and absorb excess nutrients. Additionally, by capturing C02 from the atmosphere during growth and returning it to the soil during decomposition, they are a key climate-smart agricultural practice.
The Fall Covers for Spring Savings program started with a modest 50,000-acre target in 2019. These acres were allocated in 12 days. In the 2023 crop year, 160,000 acres were made available through a combination of state and Hypoxia Task Force funds. These acres were spoken for in a matter of hours. Advocates say now it is time to expand the program to 500,000 acres.
The groups point to the success of the Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP), a similar federal program only available for crop years 2021 and 2022. Modeled after the state-based programs, PCCP provided the same $5/acre incentive to farmers who planted cover crops. During those enrollment periods, Illinois farmers signed-up an average of 500,000 acres annually.
Some comments from key Illinois agriculture leaders:
“Cover crops are fundamental to the success of the IL Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, and are a tool with many co-benefits providing a natural climate solution for Illinois. The Fall Covers for Spring Savings program has shown remarkable demand from farmers around the state and we are confident that planters are ready to meet the increase in available acres.” – Dave Rylander, IL Corn Grower Association President
“Fall Covers for Spring Savings is an excellent example of a voluntary conservation program that provides farmers with resources to support conservation that works as part of their operation.” – Ron Kindred, Illinois Soybean Association Chairman
“As Illinois sees an increase in extreme weather events, expanding acres in voluntary conservation programs such as the Fall Savings for Spring Covers Program is imperative to make progress toward Nutrient Loss Reduction Goals.” – Brian Duncan, Illinois Farm Bureau President
“Farmers find great value in the simplicity of the Fall Covers for Spring Savings initiative. Since its establishment in 2019, it has emerged as one of the state’s most favored voluntary programs, combining a conservation practice that mitigates risk with the farmers’ preferred farm safety net.” – Kris Reynolds, American Farmland Trust Midwest Regional Director
— American Farmland Trust
