Eqip - Articles

Rooted in Regeneration: A Family's Experimental Journey to Regenerative Agriculture

In Wilsall, Montana the Bays family are working with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on various conservation projects, they aim to improve the health of their soil.

November 26, 2024 | Posted in Soil Health, Investing in Regenerative Ag

Source: USDA: Natural Resources Conservation Service

In Wilsall, Montana the Bays family are working with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on various conservation projects, they aim to improve the health of their soil.

Technology Helps Cover Cropper Implement Conservation Practices

January 15, 2024 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Product Innovations & Introductions

Source: Iowa Farmer Today

Mark Kingland, who farms nearly 1,800 acres throughout Winnebago County, Iowa, with his brother, Tom, seeded several hundred cover crop acres for the first time in fall 2023 and used his new drone to broadcast the seed.

Giving IRA Conservation Funds to Farm Subsidies Threatens Millions of Cover Crop Acres

October 9, 2023 | Posted in Economics

Source: Environmental Working Group

Millions of potential cover crop acres that may help reduce farming’s greenhouse gas emissions could be lost under a plan to shift $19.5 billion in Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, funding from conservation programs to increasing price guarantees for farm subsidy programs.

USDA Announces New Opportunities to Improve Nutrient Management

August 22, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health, Economics

Source: USDA

NRCS will target funding, increasing program flexibilities, launch a new outreach campaign to promote nutrient management’s economic benefits, in addition to expanding partnerships to develop nutrient management plans. This is part of USDA’s broader effort to address future fertilizer availability and cost challenges for U.S. producers.

Blog: How Do Working Lands Conservation Programs Shape Cover Crop Adoption?

June 20, 2022 | Posted in Economics

Source: NSAC

A recent study led by the American Soybean Association (ASA) claims to demonstrate the differing value of two agricultural working lands conservation programs and their ability to create increased adoption of cover crops. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) takes issue with several aspects of the study.

$2.6 Million in Grants will Support Planting Covers on 500,000 Acres

May 24, 2022 | Posted in Economics

Grants have been awarded to the nonprofit groups American Farmland Trust, Ducks Unlimited, the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, Minnesota Soil Health Coalition and Practical Farmers of Iowa.

USDA NRCS Announces New EQIP Cover Crop Initiative

January 17, 2022 | Posted in Economics

Source: USDA press release

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing several new and expanded opportunities for climate smart agriculture in 2022. Updates include nationwide availability of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Conservation Incentive Contracts option, a new and streamlined EQIP Cover Crop Initiative, and added flexibilities for producers to easily re-enroll in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Read more in this press release from NRCS.

[Video] 20 Years of Cover Crop Experience

June 12, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Trey Hill and his father own Harborview Farm on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where they grow corn, soybeans and wheat. He has been growing cover crops for 20 years, and in the last few years has been planting them on all of his acreage.

Funding Available to Seed Cover Crops in Nebraska

April 1, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Source: NRCS

The NRCS is leading a statewide effort in Nebraska to enhance the adoption of soil health management through the Advanced Cover Crop Initiative. Landowners interested in applying for funding to establish cover crops should submit their application at their local NRCS office by April 19.

Making Cover Crops Pay — For You

Farmers looking to invest in their soils and put more money in their pocket should consider what cover crops have to offer.

February 1, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health, Economics

Cover crops have been used on American farms for over 75 years, but it wasn’t until 2012 that the practice really started to be tracked in annual surveys.