Soil Health Cover Crops Conservation Policy Naveen Adusumilli

Soil Health, Cover Crops & Conservation Policy Naveen Adusumilli Extension Economist LSU Ag. Center nadusumilli@agcenter. lsu. edu 225 -578 -2727

Existing incentives through EQIP Cover crop Reduced-till $60 -$70/acre up $14/acre up to to five years three years No-till $13/acre up to three years X $300/acre X $42/acre X X X Total assistance, all years X $39/acre $342/acre X $339/acre

• Incentives for cover crops are available through Conservation Stewardship Program as well • 5 year contract; annual payments • Maximum annual payment—$40, 000 per producer

Cover Crops and Crop Insurance • Insurance for a commercial crop following cover crop depends on three criteria • Cover crop - meets the definition • was planted in the last 12 months • managed and terminated according to NRCS guidelines

Cover crop definition • Crop planted for • Erosion control • Soil improvement • Other conservation purposes

FSA, RMA, & NRCS guidelines indicate • Cover crops can be planted • • • after a planted crop into a standing crop after prevented planting acreage with no subsequent crop planted before a subsequent crop • Terminate cover crops before the subsequent planted crop emerges (irrigated and non-irrigated cropland)

For non-irrigated croplands

If’s and but’s • An FSA policy change – now allows cover crops to be hayed or grazed • Crop reported as cover and harvested for any other purpose – it is not considered a cover crop ($$) • Weather caused delays in termination of cover crops- can be ground for ineligibility – some leeway now!! • Crops reported as cover are not counted toward total cropland

Thankyou Naveen Adusumilli Extension Economist LSU Ag. Center nadusumilli@agcenter. lsu. edu 225 -578 -2727