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.
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
Work with private landowners to implement and enroll 75,000 acres of cover crops a year, for 4 years, across the states of Indiana and Michigan, with further focus on the identified impaired watersheds
Improve soil health, decrease soil erosion, increase water quality, and maintain benefits to wildlife and their habitats
Timeline/Process
Inquire about Ducks Unlimited Midwest Cover Crop Initiative program
Complete eligibility survey & return to Ducks Unlimited
Consultation with Ducks Unlimited or approved representative
Receive and sign ADM 4-year contract
FBN onboarding & data
Plant covers
Closing survey and final data requested
$10/ acre payments made annually
Eligibility
Update: As of Oct. 1, 2022, due to high demand, the Michigan program has an application waitlist for enrollment. Applications are still accepted for Indiana.
Active tracts within the states of Indiana or Michigan
New cover crop implementation
Existing cover crop contracts (through CSP/ EQIP)
Can’t be in another privately funded program
Producer commitments
Complete eligibility survey to Ducks Unlimited
Sign ADM cover crop implementation agreement
Plant covers according to NRCS standards and specifications
