The USDA today announced that it has expanded its Post-Application Coverage Endorsement (PACE) insurance option for corn farmers who “split-apply” nitrogen to include most counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin where non-irrigated corn is insurable. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) rolled out PACE earlier this year to support stewardship of fertilizer, and it will continue to be offered in select counties of Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and South Dakota.

To “split-apply” nitrogen, growers make multiple fertilizer applications during the growing season rather than providing all the crop’s nitrogen requirements with a single treatment before or during planting. This practice can lead to lower input costs and helps prevent runoff and leaching of nutrients into waterways and groundwater.

“The expansion of PACE reflects our confidence in the product and producers’ interest," said RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger. "Today’s announcement nearly doubles the geographic area where it is now available to corn farmers.”

PACE provides payments for the projected yield lost when producers are unable to apply the post nitrogen application during the V3 through V10 corn growth stages (from plant with three visible collared leaves to five weeks after plant emerges) due to weather.

For crop year 2022, PACE will be available in select counties in 11 states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. See map. 

PACE is available as supplemental coverage for Yield Protection, Revenue Protection, and Revenue Protection with Harvest Price Exclusion policies. The next sales closing date to purchase insurance is March 15.

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