Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, is reminding farmers who planted cover crops this past fall to apply for the state’s Crop Insurance Discount Program. The deadline for applications is Friday, January 13. 

Eligible Iowans can receive a $5 per acre discount on spring crop insurance premiums through the Crop Insurance Discount Program. In its sixth year, it has helped increase the cover crop acreage across the state. In Iowa, there are approximately three million acres of cover crops. The practice is used to improve soil structure, enhance permeability, and hold phosphorus and nitrogen in place. 

In 2017, Washington County led the state with over 30,000 acres of cover crops, roughly 11.6% of its total cropland acres, according to USDA Census of Agriculture data. To apply for the Crop Insurance Discount Program, visit apply.cleanwateriowa.org.