Illinois Plans Cover Crop Funding Cut Amid High Demand

By Andi Anderson

Illinois farmers and conservationists are concerned after the state proposed cutting funds for its popular cover crop program.

Cover crops are plants grown after harvest to prevent soil erosion, reduce water pollution, and improve soil health. These crops help trap nutrients and prevent them from washing into rivers and streams.

The “Fall Cover for Spring Savings” program began in 2019 and offers farmers a $5 per acre discount on crop insurance for using cover crops. Since it started, the program has seen more applications than it can fund every year. This year, the program sold out in just two hours. Still, Governor JB Pritzker has proposed reducing the budget from $960,000 to $660,000.

Farmers like Steve Stierwalt have seen how bare soil erodes and causes long-term damage. After adopting cover crops in the early 2010s, he noticed improvements. “We have some of the best soil in the world here, and we have to protect it,” he said.

Only 3% to 6% of Illinois farmland uses cover crops, and experts say this number must grow to at least 15% to meet water quality goals. Illinois is a major contributor to fertilizer runoff, which affects marine life in the Gulf of Mexico.

Barriers to cover crop adoption include cost, extra work, and cultural resistance. Cover crops can cost $35–$40 per acre and don’t bring in profit directly. Some farmers also worry about how untidy fields look to others.

Still, farmers like Ed Dubrick support the practice. “It’s an investment,” he said. “You’re doing right by the environment and your land.”

Lawmakers are still negotiating the final budget, with hopes that more funding can be added before the end of May. Conservation leaders say long-term support and more partnerships are essential to protect Illinois’ farmland and waterways.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski