Program hikes cover crop payments

FLAT ROCK, Ind. — Farmers for Soil Health, the farmer-led initiative launched in 2022 to double cover crop acres on U.S. farmland by 2030, has reopened enrollment for 2026 with increased per-acre payments and a simplified one-year contract designed to remove barriers for growers.

Enrollment is open through Aug. 31.

“Cover crops aren’t just good for the soil — they’re good for the bottom line,” said Jim Douglas, farmer adviser for Farmers for Soil Health and a soybean and corn grower from Flat Rock in central Indiana.

“On our farm, we’ve seen the difference that cover crops make in soil health and long-term productivity,” added Douglas, who also serves as one of 77 farmer-leaders on the United Soybean Board.

“A program like Farmers for Soil Health makes it easier for farmers to take that first step by helping offset the startup costs, and the $35-per-acre payment on a simplified one-year contract removes a lot of the risk that keeps people on the fence.”

The program, a partnership among the Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff and the National Corn Growers Association, was created after commodity groups recognized the importance of cover crops.

It’s one of the most effective ways to improve soil health, reduce erosion, cut nitrogen runoff and sequester carbon. Additionally, it helps farmers meet growing demand for sustainably produced crops.

The initiative is backed by a $95 million U.S. Department of Agriculture Advancing Markets for Producers grant.

Since its launch, Farmers for Soil Health has worked toward a goal of helping farmers get more cover crop acres established by providing technical resources and cash-share dollars to the farmer.

According to the Soil Health Institute, hitting that target could increase carbon sequestered in soils by approximately 7 million metric tons, reduce erosion by 105 million metric tons and reduce nitrogen leaching by 272 million pounds.

The 2026 enrollment introduces several updates designed to make participation easier and more financially viable for growers:

• Payment rates have increased to $35 per acre, per year, up to 2,000 acres, better reflecting the actual on-farm costs of cover crop adoption.

• The contract period has been reduced to a single year, with the option to renew annually for the duration of the program, giving farmers flexibility to participate on their own terms at a consistent payment rate.

• State-based technical advisers remain available to help farmers understand eligibility, navigate enrollment and successfully implement cover crop practices.

Any corn, soybean, wheat, grain sorghum or cotton farmer operating in the 20 participating states is eligible, regardless of prior cover crop experience.

“These updates more accurately reflect on-farm costs and the agronomic value of cover crops,” said Ben West, executive director of Farmers for Soil Health.

“By offering financial assistance that better mirrors those costs, simplifying the contract structure and maintaining technical support, the program aims to make participation more accessible for growers interested in practices that improve soil health and long-term farm resilience.”

Learn more about eligibility and enroll at FarmersforSoilHealth.com/enrollment.