For producers who haven’t been able to get a crop planted this year because of the wet weather and would like to protect the bare ground and improve the soil health, there is help available. The Delaware River Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) program has cost-share funds available to plant a cover crop. Cover crops are an excellent way to increase soil organic matter, increase water infiltration and conserve soil moisture, reduce soil erosion and improve water quality.

·       The cost share rate is 50% up to a maximum of $30/acre and $3000 per producer per year for planting and seed costs

·       Cover crop funds are targeted for use in high priority areas of the watershed for cropland and livestock best management practices (see maps)

·       Applications will be considered at a July 22 leadership team meeting, and applicants will be notified right away whether or not cost share was approved

Cover crops are an excellent tool for improving soil productivity. The idea for growing cover crops is to have living, growing plants in our annual cropping systems at times of the year when there is typically nothing growing. Cover crops are usually planted after corn and soybean harvest in the fall, but for those fields that are bare because a crop didn’t get planted, this is an excellent opportunity to plant a cover crop now to gain the benefits that cover crops can provide over a longer period of time.

Contact Melissa Arthur, Delaware River WRAPS Coordinator at 785-284-3422 or delawarewatershed@gmail.com to get more information, find out if land is in a watershed targeted area or to get an application.