Overwhelming Response to Emergency Cover Crop Assistance

The Posey County Soil and Water Conservation District on behalf of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) received an overwhelming response to the emergency cover crop cost share assistance available for landowners located in the D4 (exceptional drought) classified counties as of August 14, 2012, designated  by the U.S. Drought Monitor Fast Track Designation process. More than 200 inquiries were received from area landowners and farmers in less than 24-hours. No further applicants will be accepted.

The evaluation is underway and the funds will be dispersed among the D4 counties including: Clay, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vigo and Warrick.

“We want to thank our farmers for their quick response to leverage resources to preserve and build soil health or provide livestock growers an additional source of forage,” said Indiana Agriculture Director, Joe Kelsay. “I also want to stress our appreciate for the partnership with our Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and especially Posey County for fielding these calls and assuring all D4 counties are represented.”

Recipients of the emergency cover crop cost sharing assistance will be notified by phone the week of September 17. Criteria for receiving these funds include but are not limited to the following:

  • Must not be receiving cover crop drought assistance funds through NRCS’s Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), or other related cover crop drought assistance program
  • Land must be located in a D4 classified county as of August 14, 2012
  • Cost share incentive will be a flat rate of $30 per acre
  • ·         Cost share assistance is limited to 100 acres per producer
  • Cover crop seeding may be grazed or cut for forage feed if needed after it has reached adequate growth
  • Indiana NRCS Technical Guide specifications for cover crop seeding (340) or forage planting (512) will be followed depending on intended use

Cost share incentive may only be used for costs directly associated with establishment of cover crops such as seed, planting, etc.

For additional resources on our state’s efforts in response to the 2012 Drought, visit www.in.gov/drought/.

Source: ISDA

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