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:

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.