NW Illinois News

State Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Springfield)  is encouraging farmers to use the Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program.

The Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program is available to farmers who planted cover crops in fall 2021 in order to preserve the soil in preparation for an insurable crop to be grown in 2022, according to a press release on McCombie's official website.

"Enrollment open now! Applications will be available until January 15, 2022 on the Illinois Department of Agriculture website," McCombie announced on Twitter.

The program was formed to stimulate the spread of cover crop acres that were not previously insured through other state or federal initiatives.

This is the third year that the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) has offered the program, and eligible land will be funded on a first-come, first-served system.

Qualifying applicants will receive a $5 per acre premium reduction on the next year's crop insurance for each acre of cover crop enrolled and confirmed in the program,

 Additionally, applicants must first obtain certification from their local Farm Service Agency office for their eligible cover crops prior to submitting.

Candidates for the 2022 application process are also required to submit their current FSA-578 and federal crop insurance policy number(s) to be considered

Fall Covers for Spring Savings is only available to individuals who have crop insurance coverage through the United States Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency (USDA-RMA).

"IDOA will use a combination of tools to verify that acres applied for through this program are planted in cover crops," the press release states.

Verified applications will then be transferred to the USDA-RMA for premium discounts to be applied to 2022 crop insurance invoices.

 Individuals may apply on the Illinois Department of Agriculture's website until Jan. 15, 2022.

Additional information is available by calling the IDOA at (217) 782-6297.