A cover crop is an un-harvested crop planted as part of a planned rotation to provide conservation benefits to the soil such as increased soil organic matter, reduced soil erosion, conserving soil moisture, increased nutrient cycling, weed suppression and reduced compaction. This can result in improved crop production and nutrient utilization, enhanced water quality and decreased pesticide use. In addition, cover crops can provide supplemental grazing for livestock. Crop and livestock producers who are interested in trying cover crops may be reluctant about the cost of “experimenting” with cover crops. The Delaware River WRAPS (Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy) currently has cost share funds available for the establishment of cover crops that benefit cropland and livestock. The purpose of this program is to reduce the financial risk for producers interested in trying cover crops who have not already incorporated them into their ongoing operations. The Midwest Cover Crops Council has developed a web-based tool for considering cover crop options at: http://www.mccc.msu.edu/selectorINTRO.html.  

Larry Stuckey is a landowner in Brown and Nemaha counties who has worked with three local operators over the past three years to establish cover crops on his crop fields, utilizing cost share funding from the Delaware WRAPS. Stuckey is a firm believer in the benefits of cover crops, having seen the positive results of long-term cover crop usage on soil health and productivity on various cover crop tours in multiple states, and utilizes cover crops following wheat harvest on cropland he owns in South Dakota. In Kansas, where he uses a corn-soybean crop rotation, Stuckey has had the most success with drilling cereal rye on his fields, given a relatively short growing season after fall harvest. Although his own experience with cover crops has been limited, he feels that cover crops have been very beneficial in holding the soil, particularly on soybean fields, and have improved soil moisture. One of his operators has also benefited from using cover crops for supplemental livestock forage. Stuckey believes that cover crops will be important in agriculture’s future to help reduce soil erosion and nutrient loading to our nation’s waterways and considers WRAPS cost share funding “a terrific incentive to people interested in cover crops.”

The Delaware WRAPS cost share rate for cover crop establishment is currently 70% up to a maximum of $45/acre and $4,500 per producer per year. Funding is targeted for use in high priority areas of the watershed for cropland and livestock best management practices to reduce pollutant loading to streams. A livestock producer workshop will be held on August 19th in Netawaka and will feature speakers and information on extending the grazing season, including cover crop usage. Cost share funding is also available for other practices that reduce soil erosion and help control nutrient and bacteria runoff.

Contact Kerry Wedel, Delaware River WRAPS Coordinator, at 785-284-3422 or kwedel@delawarewraps.com for more information about applying for WRAPS cost share funding or to attend the August 19th livestock workshop. Applications for cost share funding will be considered by the Delaware WRAPS Stakeholder Leadership Team in late August. Information and application forms for WRAPS cost share funding are also available at www.delawarewraps.com or at your local conservation district office in Atchison, Brown, Jackson, Jefferson and Nemaha counties.