Cover crop program available through LCNRD

HARTINGTON — The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District offers a cost-share program for residents in the three-county area of Knox, Cedar, and Dixon. The Cover Crop Program offers an incentive payment of up to 50 percent of the establishment cost to help protect soil resources over the winter months and to provide additional organic matter for spring crops.

The program enables producers to take the next step to improve soil health and utilize cover crop options for up to three years with no-till systems. Cover crops can provide the added benefit of capturing, recycling, and redistributing nutrients, such as nitrogen, in their fields.

Cooperators can consult with agronomists for seed mix alternatives and complete an application through their local NRCS office in Bloomfield, Hartington or Ponca. Applications are limited to fields of up to 80 acres in size. Eligible land must be no-tilled cropland (not cornstalk harvested).

Applications for cost share must be received and approved by the LCNRD board prior to Aug. 31, 2020. Producers can enroll the acres in the cover crop program for up to three consecutive years. Reimbursement is based on 50 percent of the seed and seeding costs not to exceed $25 per acre or $1,000 per year. Payment will be made following termination of the cover crop, inspection, and compliance with NRCS-LCNRD guidelines, and submissions of receipts.

For questions, call your local NRCS office or contact LCNRD at 402-254-6758.