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Illinois Cover Crop Initiative

Cover crops are a critical piece of soil health systems and provide a plethora of benefits to fields and farms. Continue reading below for available programs and other cover crop resources.

Programs Available

Resources

Information for the 2023 Program will be available soon. Review the 2022 program information to learn more.

Information Sheet

Frequently Asked Questions

ADM Information Sheet

This program provides payments to farmers for incorporating cover crops, no-tillage, and/or emissions scoring into their operations. This is a flexible program that allows farmers to enroll acres where practices have previously been used and to choose from 1, 2, 3, or 4-year contracts. Carbon assets generated from participation in this program are being claimed by ADM.

The 2023 Program Enrollment will open soon. Information will be posted on this website and available on ADM’s re:generations page. Interested farmers can sign up to receive program updates.

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE PROGRAM NOTIFICATIONS

Program Partners

Resources Available

The following are resources that provide information on cover crops, seed mixes, available programs, and more.

Midwest Cover Crop Council

The Midwest Cover Crop Council website provides many great cover crop resources. Visit the “Selector Tools” tab to find the best planting dates for your area and your seed mix that follow NRCS guidelines.

Post-Corn, Going to Soybeans Cover Crop Recipe

This recipe provides an introductory approach to integrating a cover crop into a corn-soybean rotation.

Post-Soybeans, Going to Corn Cover Crop Recipe

The following recipe provides an introductory approach to integrating a cover crop ahead of corn.

NREC Cover Crop Guide

The Nutrient Research and Education Council’s publication describes considerations for first time cover crop adopters. The observations are based on multi-year research projects.

ISAP Events Webpage

Visit the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership’s events page to find upcoming field days and virtual discussions about cover crops.

ISAP Available Programs Matrix

ISAP’s Cover Crop Incentives Directory provides an overview of cover crop incentive payment opportunities for farmers in Illinois.”