Producers who have coverage under most crop insurance policies are eligible for premiums from USDA if they planted cover crops during this crop year.
The Risk Management Agency’s Pandemic Cover Crop Program will offer support to producers to maintain their cover crop systems through the financial difficulties of the pandemic.
Those who insured their spring crop and planted a qualifying cover crop will receive support of $5 per acre, but no more than the full premium owed. All cover crops reportable to the Farm Service Agency are eligible, including cereals and other grasses, legumes, brassicas and other non-legume broadleaves, and mixtures of two or more cover crop species planted at the same time.
To be eligible, producers must file a Report of Acreage form (FSA-578) by June 15. To file the form, producers should contact their local USDA Service Center, which may be found at farmers.gov/service-center-locator.
