Wallaces Farmer

30 million acres in cover crops by 2030?30 million acres in cover crops by 2030?

The newly formed Farmers for Soil Health is offering incentives for transitioning to cover crops.

Tom J. Bechman, Midwest Crops Editor

December 10, 2024

4 Min Read
sign in front of a field that says Enricher Daikon Radish
PAID TO SWITCH: If you haven’t raised cover crops before, the Farmers for Soil Health program offers incentives to start, whether it be radish, cereal rye or another cover crop.Tom J. Bechman

At a Glance

  • The United Soybean Board and other national farm groups helped organize this effort.
  • About $95 million in grant money awarded to Farmers for Soil Health will incentivize farmers.
  • The group will create a marketplace to connect farmers with buyers of climate-smart commodities.

Cover crop use is on the rise across the U.S. However, the U.S. Census of Agriculture confirms that as of 2019, cover crops are still only grown on 6% of U.S. cropland.

Jack Cornell, director of sustainable supply for the United Soybean Board, believes that figure can go up dramatically. In fact, he supports a new initiative with the lofty goal of doubling cover crop acres across the U.S. to 30 million acres by 2030.

The initiative is Farmers for Soil Health, spearheaded by a partnership involving the United Soybean Board, the National Corn Growers Association and the National Pork Board. The initiative was awarded $95 million in grants through USDA’s Climate-Smart Agriculture initiative.

To reach the 2030 goal, Cornell says cover crops must increase 1.7 million acres per year. “Achieving the goal would increase carbon sequestered by soils by about 7 million metric tons,” he says. “We can also reduce soil erosion by 105 million metric tons and reduce nitrogen leaching by an estimated 272 million pounds.”

Other supporters include USDA and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Sustainability Consortium, National Association of Conservation Districts, University of Missouri’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture, National Center for Appropriate Technology’s ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas) Sustainable Agriculture Program, Walton Family Foundation, DTN and Soil Health Institute.

Related:Soil testing starts with the sample

How you can participate

What incentives are available? How do you sign up? Does the program go beyond cover crops? Cornell answers these questions in this exclusive interview:

Your 2030 goals are lofty. Do you have interim goals for reducing carbon emissions, saving soil and increasing cover crop acres? Yes, transparency and accountability are important. We have resources and tools to help track progress toward 2030 objectives. Farmers for Soil Health will monitor advancements through several key measures:

• Use a GIS mapping system and farmer audits to create traceable metrics, ensuring accurate data on our initiatives.

• The National Agricultural Statistics Service Census of Agriculture data will track cover crop acres.

• Soil loss will be assessed based on National Resources Inventory data.

• The Soil Health Institute will model carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, soil loss, and water quality.

To support these efforts, the program was awarded $95 million. The investment directly supports farmers, including cost sharing on cover crops and technical assistance. These resources will be significant in helping achieve interim goals. By keeping a close eye on these measures and providing support, we’re building a strong foundation for long-lasting improvements in soil health and driving environmental stewardship.

Related:Plant diversity benefits pollinators and soil health

Which states are included in the program? States where the program will be implemented include Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virgina and Wisconsin.

A program administrator is responsible for each state. Find contact information at farmersforsoilhealth.com.

How do farmers sign up? What incentives are there to participate? Sign up for the Farmers for Soil Health program through our enrollment platform, developed with DTN.

Incentives include financial assistance for adopting cover crops on over 1.3 million acres. Participating farmers will receive transition incentive payments over three years:

  • Year 1: $25 per acre

  • Year 2: $15 per acre

  • Year 3: $10 per acre

Additionally, a one-time payment of $2 per acre for farmers with existing cover crops is available through signing incentive payments, up to 600,000 acres of existing cover crops. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will manage financial payments.

Related:What soil types are in your field?

Farmers for Soil Health will also create a marketplace to connect farmers with buyers of climate-smart commodities, offering further premium opportunities.

So, can farmers sign up at any time? Yes, but timing of enrollment determines when you will be eligible for payments. Signing up before our Feb. 28 cutoff ensures eligibility for payment in the current year. We also provide support for those who need help with cover crop planning.

What if farmers are already no-tilling and using cover crops? We welcome them! It’s important for farmers to ensure that the $50 cost share for cover crops is available on fields that did not have cover crops the previous year. Also, we encourage their participation in the marketplace for farmers to openly negotiate with end users. Farmers who are experienced in sustainability practices will have an edge and can more easily enhance their profitability.

The exciting part is that this initiative is designed to support a wide range of farming practices. As we continue to grow and enhance the program, we will look at more on-farm practices that allow farmers to enhance profitability.

Why did USB get involved? We saw an opportunity to enhance soil health while promoting sustainability and profitability for farmers. USB, in partnership with the National Corn Growers Association and the National Pork Board, also wants to help farmers reduce risks associated with adopting new practices. The program provides funding and technical assistance to support farmers as they transition to more sustainable methods.

About the Author

Tom J. Bechman

Midwest Crops Editor, Farm Progress

Tom J. Bechman became the Midwest Crops editor at Farm Progress in 2024 after serving as editor of Indiana Prairie Farmer for 23 years. He joined Farm Progress in 1981 as a field editor, first writing stories to help farmers adjust to a difficult harvest after a tough weather year. His goal today is the same — writing stories that help farmers adjust to a changing environment in a profitable manner.

Bechman knows about Indiana agriculture because he grew up on a small dairy farm and worked with young farmers as a vocational agriculture teacher and FFA advisor before joining Farm Progress. He works closely with Purdue University specialists, Indiana Farm Bureau and commodity groups to cover cutting-edge issues affecting farmers. He specializes in writing crop stories with a focus on obtaining the highest and most economical yields possible.

Tom and his wife, Carla, have four children: Allison, Ashley, Daniel and Kayla, plus eight grandchildren. They raise produce for the food pantry and house 4-H animals for the grandkids on their small acreage near Franklin, Ind.

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