Iowa Crop Insurance Discount Program Offers $5/Acre for Fall Cover Crops

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has opened sign-ups for its annual Crop Insurance Discount Program, which incentivizes farmers to plant fall cover crops by offering a $5 per acre reduction on crop insurance premiums for 2026. The program, part of Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy, is designed to promote conservation practices while helping farmers reduce insurance costs. Eligible acres must be fall-planted cover crops not enrolled in other cost-share programs, and certain insurance policies may be excluded, requiring coordination with crop insurance agents to ensure compliance. The initiative is administered jointly by IDALS and the USDA Risk Management Agency and has gained traction as a model conservation program, with nearly 2,000 farmers enrolling over 1.4 million acres since its inception. Enrollment is conducted online through January 23, 2026, facilitating convenient participation. This program reflects ongoing state efforts to integrate environmental stewardship with risk management strategies in agriculture, promoting sustainable farming practices and potentially reducing long-term agricultural risks.