08/07/2026
If you are interested in planting a cover crop this fall now is the time to come by your local office and talk to the staff. Depending on what you want to plant we have different seeding dates, the earliest being September 25 and latest being December 1.
Per policy cover crops must be no-tilled or broadcast seeded, production crop following the cover crop must be planted using a no-till system. Payment can be issued after no-till of the production crops into the terminated cover crop or after April 1 if the production has not been planted. Cover crops can not be harvested for grain, seed or hayed. Tillage can not be used to terminate the cover crop. We do require you to take a soil sample that has to be mailed to the Missouri Soil Heath Assessment Center (SHAC) in Columbia, there is cost share available to help cover that cost.
Payment rates are $30/acre/year for 1 or 2 species cover crop mix or $40/acre/year for 3 or more species cover crop mix with an annual maximum total payment of $5,000 per operator.
