The Illinois Department of Agriculture has good news if you’re planning to sign up for its cover crop insurance discount program next month: Program limits have been increased from 100,000 acres to 140,000 acres.

The program, known as Fall Covers for Spring Savings, opens for sign-up at 8 a.m. on Dec. 15. Historically, it has filled up within hours, with many farmers waiting at their computer for the sign-up period to open. The program offers a $5 rebate on federal crop insurance for acres with cover crops. In 2021, farmers claimed all 100,000 acres within 10 hours, according to Brian Rennecker, IDOA bureau chief of land and water resources. The department received applications for 131,000 acres, which means 31,000 didn’t get enrolled.

This year, Rennecker hopes that won’t be a problem. IDOA is funding 100,000 acres through a line item in the state budget, and it received funding for an additional 40,000 acres through Illinois and U.S. EPA gulf hypoxia funds. If sign-ups are similar to last year, he believes all requested acres should be enrolled.

“We still hope it fills up the first day,” Rennecker says. “With late plant and late harvest, we really don’t know where we’re at with cover crop acres statewide. It’s going to be an interesting application period.”

In the falls of 2019 and 2020, the program offered rebates on 50,000 acres. It expanded to 100,000 acres in 2021, and now sits at 140,000 acres in 2022.

Those who sign up will get a $5-per-acre rebate when they get their crop insurance invoice next August and September.

“It doesn’t sound like much, but if your crop insurance is $20 an acre and you get a $5 rebate, that’s a 25% savings,” Rennecker says, adding that the rebate sometimes allows farmers to add coverage for wind and hail.

One last reminder: Before you sit down at the computer at 8 a.m. on Dec. 15, Rennecker says to be sure you have an electronic copy of your Farm Service Agency Form 578 with verified cover crop acres, and have your crop insurance policy number on hand. You’ll need both to enroll. Visit IDOA's website to sign up.