A cover crop is a crop planted for the purpose of providing seasonal cover or for other conservation purposes such as improvement of soil, erosion control, control of pests, or to provide supplemental forage for livestock.  For producers for whom cover crops are not yet a standard practice, now is an excellent time to take advantage of educational opportunities and cost share programs that can take some of the guess work and financial risk out of experimenting with covers.

A cover crop education day will be held March 10 at 10:00 am at the Highland Community Center in Highland, KS. Speakers will include cover crop experts and a local producer panel, and lunch will be provided. This event is hosted by the Brown & Doniphan County Conservation Districts, K-State Research and Extension, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Please RSVP to Chris Griffin at 785-985-2221 ext.3 by March 2.  

Delaware River WRAPS (Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy) currently has cost share funds available for the establishment of cover crops for cropland or livestock forage. The purpose of this cost share program is to reduce the financial risk of experimenting with covers for producers for whom cover crops are not yet a standard practice.  

·       The cost share rate is 50% up to a maximum of $30/acre and $3000 per producer per year

·       Cover crop funds are targeted for use in high priority areas of the watershed for cropland and livestock best management practices

·       Applications will be considered in early April

Contact Melissa Arthur, Delaware River WRAPS Coordinator at 785-284-3422 or delawarewatershed@gmail.com to get more information, find out if land is in a watershed targeted area or to get an application.