The Illinois Department of Agriculture will adopt and implement a crop insurance reward program for cover crops that American Farmland Trust and a coalition of agriculture, environmental and conservation organizations developed.

Planting over much of the Midwest is seriously delayed and history suggests the odds have also increased for reduced yields and very low net incomes. Two ag economist discuss why obtaining the number of acres eligible for prevented planting by crop for each insurance unit is useful background information to acquire in case planting decisions need to be made after the prevented planting date.

While some important progress was made in the recent Farm Bill regarding soil health and cover crop management, a recent article detailed an important omission that will still impact many farmers’ wallets.

$5 per acre premium reduction on crop insurance in 2018 for Iowa farmers who plant cover crops this fall (2017).

The world has a burdensome supply of wheat and corn from the 2016 season, and adequate supply of soybeans, so what should no-tillers do with what remains of their cash crops?

Not convinced cover crops are a good investment? Many of your fellow no-tillers may disagree. See SARE’s fourth annual cover crop survey to find out why.

Keep crop insurance dates, soil temperature and the possibility for a late spring freeze in mind when deciding whether to start planting.

From April 16th - May 15th, we asked No-Till Farmer readers: "Do you grow cover crops and/or have crop insurance?"