Throughout the summer, floods and storms destroyed farms throughout Iowa. Many of the crop acres were completely washed out by the flooding, especially in the northwest portion of the state.

On fields without row crops still growing this season, cover crops can be used to protect and rebuild the ground.

“The road to recovery following a natural disaster takes time. However, as farmers make decisions for their land, I encourage them to think about cover crops as a viable, beneficial part of that recovery process,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig in a press release.

Cover crops have a variety of uses including reducing soil erosion, improving soil health, improving water quality and providing alternative feed and forage for livestock.

There are many resources available for Iowa farmers seeding cover crops on flooded areas or utilizing prevent plant acres through programs offered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

One of these programs is the statewide cost share available for water quality practices, which is currently open for enrollment. The practices eligible for this funding include cover crops, no-till, strip till or using a nitrification inhibitor when applying fertilizer.

This year, the cost-share incentives are $5 higher per acre than previous years. First-time cover crop growers are eligible for $30 per acre of cover crops. Farmers who have planted cover crops before and are returning participants can receive $20 per acre. Producers who are transitioning acres to no-till or strip tillage practices are eligible for $10 per acre. New user can also receive $3 per acre for utilizing a nitrogen inhibitor when applying fall fertilizer. Cost share funding is limited to 160 acres per participant through this program.

Cost-shared cover crops can be grazed, baled and chopped, but they cannot be harvested for a cash crop or tilled in the fall, according to the press release.

If you are not interested in cost-share programs, there are private funding operations and assistance available. It is also important to check with your crop insurance agent to make discuss any cover crop rules and restrictions on prevented planting acres.

In early December, Iowa farmers can also sign up for the Crop Insurance Discount Program. This program provides a $5 per acre credit toward crop insurance premiums in the spring for the cover crops that were planted in the fall. Farmers are encouraged to apply after they have completed cover crop seeding.

If you are looking for suggestions on what to do with your cover crops, contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District and NRCS staff. You can also connect with ISU Extension or agronomists or seed dealers in your area.

“Please know that my team at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will continue to offer our support and assistance. Iowans helping Iowans is at the core of what makes our state special, and we will get through this together,” Naig said in the release.

Related Content:

Nebraska Farmer's Land Saved by Cover Crops During Record Storm,

Cover Crops Held Soil in Place During Massive Western Canada Floods,

The Connection Between Flooding & Farming Methods