Cover Crop Partnerships

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Ducks Unlimited has partnered with the National Fish and Wildlife FoundationADMUnited States Department of Agriculture, and Farmers Business Network to incentivize producers in both Indiana and Michigan to implement 75,000 acres of cover crops to improve water quality and wildlife habitats.

Over the next 4 years, DU will work with their partners and private landowners to enroll acres into cover crop contracts with ADM. In return, the landowners will receive a $10/acre incentive payment, each year, for 4 years ($40 per acre total).

Under this project, cover crop implementation will occur across all of Indiana and Michigan but will be further targeted in the intensively agriculture dominated watersheds of Saginaw Bay and the St. Joseph River, Michigan; and the Western Lake Erie Basin of Indiana and Michigan.Project Focus Area

According to USDA NRCS, cover crops are only implemented on 6% of the cultivated land in the north-central United States. DU’s goal is to help farmers apply cover crop practices to improve soil health, reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases, and improve water resources, while providing economic benefit to participating producers, while maintaining benefits to wildlife.

Cover Crop Partnership Goals

Timeline/Process

  1. Inquire about Ducks Unlimited Midwest Cover Crop Initiative program
  2. Complete eligibility survey & return to Ducks Unlimited
  3. Consultation with Ducks Unlimited or approved representative
  4. Receive and sign ADM 4-year contract
  5. FBN onboarding & data
  6. Plant covers
  7. Closing survey and final data requested
  8. $10/ acre payments made annually

Producer Timeline

Eligibility

Producer commitments

For more information, contact:
Jena Herrick
Regional Biologist, Ducks Unlimited
815-760-1895
jherrick@ducks.org

National Fish and Wildlife FoundationNatural Resources Conservation Service Farmers Business Network

ADM