Cover crops can improve soil health

LEE COUNTY - Cover crops have once again become a popular tool to assist producers with improving their overall crop productivity, soil health, and water quality.
First of all, let’s explore what has brought the popularity of cover crops back.  Planting cover crops is not a new practice.  It is a centuries-old practice that is being rediscovered.  The new twist on cover crops is using them to improve soil health and water quality.
How do cover crops improve soil health and water quality?
1) Soil structure – cover crops increase the organic matter content in your soil, improve overall soil structure, break-up compaction, and improve water infiltration.
2) Nitrogen trapping – cover crops will trap excess nitrogen left in the soil and release it as the       cover crop decomposes, allowing your grain crop to utilize the nitrogen in the spring.

3) Erosion control – cover crops will provide a living cover on your field in between crops to minimize erosion on your field during the fall, winter, and spring.
4) Weed suppression – cover crops help suppress winter annual weeds that might grow in your fields between harvest in the fall and planting a new crop in the spring.
There are cost-share programs available to assist you in planting cover crops.  The Iowa Financial Incentive Program (IFIP) offers Lee County producers a flat rate of $25.00 per acre, up to 40 acres per applicant.  The Water Quality Initiative (WQI) also offers a flat rate of $30.00 per acre for first-time cover crop users, up to 160 acres per applicant.  If you have planted cover crops before, you’re eligible for a flat rate of $20.00 per acre through WQI.
WQI also offers cost share for nitrification inhibitors at $3.00 per acre and no till/strip till at $10.00 acre if you have never used those practices in your operation. 
The signup ends June 30th and funds are expected to be obligated quickly for both IFIP and WQI. 
If you are interested in signing up for any of these practices, we suggest you stop in our office as soon as possible and sign an application to get your name on the list.  We are located at the USDA Service Center building, 507 Elm Street in Donnellson.  Our office hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday.  If you have any questions and would like to call for further information, our phone number is 319-835-5313 ext. 3.