Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership publishes Cover Crop Incentive Directory

DEKALB, Ill. — Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership announced the publication of the first Cover Crop Incentive Directory for Illinois.

The directory aims to provide a clear comparison of several programs that offer payment incentives to Illinois farmers for growing cover crops.

The directory includes information on 15 incentive opportunities, including publicly funded programs at the federal, state and county levels, as well as privately funded programs throughout Illinois.

The three-page document includes a brief description, relevant geography, contract length, payment details and contact information for each program. By viewing the programs side by side, farmers will be able to compare programs and select the option that is best for their operation.

The directory also includes a “stacking matrix” to help farmers understand which programs can be combined to receive multiple incentives.

With so many programs to choose from, and many programs having exceptions or exclusions for stacking, the Stacking Matrix provides a program-by-program guide to stacking opportunities.

“We’ve heard from farmers and farm advisers in our network that this would be a valuable resource as they promote the adoption of cover crops or consider implementing cover crops on their farm,” said Jean Brokish, Midwest deputy director for American Farmland Trust, a founding member of ISAP.

“Our goal is to spread awareness of the many opportunities available to farmers and to increase the adoption of cover crops throughout Illinois.”

Inclusion on the directory does not constitute an endorsement of any particular program by ISAP or its members.

The intent of the partnership is to facilitate data sharing among ISAP’s farmer network and advance the adoption of conservation cropping systems to improve soil health and reduce nutrient loss.

The Cover Crop Incentive Directory and Stacking Matrix is available to view on ISAP’s website.

The partnership encourages farmers, conservation specialists, extension agents and other farm advisers to share the directory with their networks and to get in touch with any suggested updates to the directory as programs continue to develop and evolve.