For more information, or to apply for EQIP/ Cover Crop CSP funding, contact your local NRCS Office Funding Opportunities or go to: www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program Cover Crop • Ideal for first time cover crop producers. • Up to 3 annual payments — allows for 3 years to gain experience from planting cover Benefits & crops. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against • Payment rates based on used seed mixture. its customers. If you believe you experienced discrimination when obtain- Opportunities • Must meet NRCS cover crop seeding re- ing services from USDA, participating in a USDA program, or participating quirements. in a program that receives financial assistance from USDA, you may file a complaint with USDA. Information about how to file a discrimination com- 2013 EQIP Basic* Payment Rates plaint is available from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. • Legumes — $28.71/Ac • Winter Kill Species — $24.48/Ac USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the • Grasses/Cereal Grains — $27.68/Ac basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, • Species Mix — $34.76/Ac sex (including gender identity and expression), marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is Conservation Stewardship Program derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply (CSP) to all programs.)

• 5 year contract; annual payments. To file a complaint of discrimination, complete, sign and mail a program • Payments for existing conservation system discrimination complaint form, available at any USDA office location or online at www.ascr.usda.gov, or write to: PLUS additional enhancements to existing conservation system. USDA • Maximum annual payment—$40,000. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. CSP Cover Crop Enhancement Options Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 • Continuous Cover Crops • Cover Crop Mixtures Or call toll free at (866) 632-9992 (voice) to obtain additional information, the appropriate office or to request documents. Individuals who are deaf, *Higher payment rates available for histori- hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the cally underserved producers or initiative Federal Relay service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.Persons with participants. disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). Let’s talk cover crops! Planting Tips Cover crops are making a comeback in Cover Crop Benefits Cover crops can be seeded with ground Iowa. In the last five years, the number of • Reduce Soil Erosion equipment like drills or broadcast equip- ment or aerially applied to get the cover cover crops acres have increased more • Build Soil Tilth & than 15 times. Why? Because they do some crop started early enough to achieve the desired results. amazing things! Farmers are learning that Improve Soil Health cover crops help increase the productivity • Increase Soil Porosity Cover crops are ideal for planting after of their soil, by improving organic matter, & Infiltration early harvested crops like wheat, sweet nutrient availability, infiltration and pro- corn, seed corn, and silage corn. tecting soil from erosion. • Reduce Pests • Improve Soil Microbiology Cover crops protects soil from erosion • Produce/ Scavenge by covering it in the fall and sometimes Which Cover Crop is through the spring. Radish and turnips Crop Nutrients may also help break through compacted • Reduce Soil Compaction Right for You? soil layers. • Increase Nutrient Recycling Nutrient Scavengers? • Good Forage Source • Annual Ryegrass They scavenge unused fertilizer and • Radish release nutrients back into the soil for the • Help Winter Annual Weed Control • Winter Cereal Rye next crop to use. Cereal grains, annual rye • Improve Yield Potential Over Time grass and radish are common cover crops • Oats for this purpose. Cover crops also provide protective vegetative cover/mulch for the Nitrogen Producers? Similar to high priced commercial nitro- soil which helps suppress winter annual • Crimson Clover weeds. gen fertilizers, a legume cover crop could help “grow” some of your N needs the old • Hairy Vetch Cover crops build organic matter which fashioned way. • Austrian Winter Pea improves soil tilth, porosity and infiltration by providing the natural ‘glues’ that hold Cover crops also provide an excellent for- Nitrogen Producers & soil particles together. age resource for livestock. They also pro- Scavengers? vide spring sod for calving out of the mud. • Crimson Clover/Radish Some cover crops— radish and annual • Hairy Vetch/Annual Rye Grass ryegrass—may have the ability to suppress soybean cyst nematode. • Crimson Clover/Radish • Austrian Winter Pea/Radish