IARN — Farmers with crop insurance can now hay, graze, or chop cover crops for silage, haylage, or baleage at any time and still receive 100% of the prevented planting payment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the change on Tuesday, July 6. Before, cover crops could only be hayed, grazed, or chopped after November 1; otherwise, the prevented planting payment was reduced by 65%.
“We are dedicated to responding to the needs of producers, and this flexibility is good for agriculture and promotes climate smart agricultural practices,” USDA Acting RMA Administrator Richard Flournoy said.
The Risk Management Agency increased the flexibility in an effort to encourage producers to use cover crops, which is an important conservation and good farming practice. The decision to add flexibility for the 2021 crop year and make the change permanent coincides with the advanced research and identified benefits cover crops have supporting healthy soils and cropland sustainability efforts.
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network
