Berrien County Conservation District
Farmers for Soil Health (FSH)
This Farmers for Soil Health program provides technical and financial assistance to farmers planting cover crops in select states. It is a farmer-led cover crop program that advances the use of soil health practices, meets sustainability goals and improves farmer profitability
Cover Crops
Farmers report significant agronomic benefits from cover crops. In many cases, their value outweighs the challenges of adoption. A wide variety of cover crop management practices allows growers to develop and adapt a system that fits their climate, crop rotation and soil health needs.
Soils that maintain actively growing plants as long as possible also maintain the activity that allows them to nourish crops. Cover crops feed soil microbial communities, which impact soil characteristics like water retention, aggregate stability, nutrient cycling and more. They also produce biomass that provides organic matter, supports carbon management and aids in weed control. Some cover crops can double as forages for grazing or haying
Benefits of Cover Crops
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Environmental Impact
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Build Organic Matter
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Improve Soil Structure
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Reduce Costs
Program Details
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Enrollment is open now.
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The program is a three-year commitment.
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Crop fields in a corn and/or soybean rotation will be eligible for transition incentives totaling
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$50 per new acre of cover crops across three years.
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Signing incentives of $2 per acre are available for existing cover crops on corn and soybean fields.
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The program requires participation in measurement, reporting and verification to demonstrate progress toward the goal of expanding cover crop adoption to 30 million acres by 2030.
Reach out to Lisa Kuntz today to get you enrolled at 269-421-3054