The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is relaunching the Infield Conservation for Operationalizing Vital Ecosystem Resilience (I-COVER) Program to promote the early establishment of cover crops using new techniques and/or technology.
IDOA secured a $7 million USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grant to launch the program, which offers cost-share/financial incentives to producers and landowners who are new adopters of cover crops or who utilize new techniques for earlier establishment of cover crops. I-COVER is a three-year program for cover crops planted in 2026, 2027, and 2028.
The program was paused last summer out of an abundance of caution to protect the financial interests of farmers as federal funding was mired in uncertainty. IDOA refused to ask farmers to invest in the I-COVER program without knowing definitively that they would be reimbursed.
State officials have since worked with USDA NRCS to re-open this critical program, continuing the state’s commitment to soil health initiatives. All applicants who applied under the previous program period will be required to submit a new application to be considered for funding.
“Research shows cover crops strengthen soil health, reduce erosion, improve resilience during drought, and help manage pests, weeds and diseases,” said Jerry Costello II, Illinois Director of Agriculture. “This program incentivizes farmers to protect and preserve Illinois soil, which is among the most fertile in the world.”
Pre-enrollment and applications are available online. Visit the IDOA website and select the I-COVER Program link on the home page.
