Cover Crops

Crop insurance and cover crops have successfully coexisted for decades, as evidenced by the rapid growth in the use of this agronomic practice. Crop insurance recognizes the use of cover crops for erosion control, conservation, and soil improvement.

What is a cover crop?
A cover crop is a crop generally recognized by agricultural experts as agronomically sound for the area for erosion control or other purposes related to conservation or soil improvement.

Pandemic Cover Crop Program
Agricultural producers who have coverage under most crop insurance policies are eligible for a premium benefit from USDA if they planted cover crops during this crop year. The Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP), offered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), reduces producers’ overall premium bills and helps them maintain their cover crop systems. To receive the benefit, producers must file a Report of Acreage form (FSA-578) by March 15, 2022. For qualifying cover crops that are planted after March 15, producers now have through May 31, 2022 to report those cover crop acres. Learn more on farmers.gov.

• Pandemic Cover Crop Program for 2022 (PM-22-014)
• COVID-19 Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP) (MGR-21-003)
• Cover Crop Guidance for the 2020 and Succeeding Crop Years (MGR-19-017)

• Cover Crops - 2018 Farm Bill

• Cover Crops and Crop Insurance

• Good Farming Practice Determination Standards Handbook

• NRCS Guidelines Version 4. For crops with a contract change date of June 30, 2019, or later, starting with the 2020 crop year.
• NRCS Guidelines Version 3. For crops with a contract change date from September 30, 2014 to June 29, 2019.
• NRCS Guidelines Version 2. For crops with a contract change date from December 31, 2013 to September 29, 2014.
• NRCS Guidelines Version 1. For crops with a contract change date from June 30, 2013 to December 30, 2013.

• 2020 Cover Crops Crop Insurance, Cover Crops and NRCS Cover Crop Termination Guidelines
• Pandemic Cover Crop Program Frequently Asked Questions

• Your local USDA Service Center
• NRCS Website
• Cover Crops and Soil Health
• Pandemic Cover Crop Program
• Pandemic Cover Crop Program National Fact Sheet

Find a crop insurance agent to discuss available options for your farm or ranch.

Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available online at the RMA Agent Locator.

For more information, contact RMA Public Affairs.