The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today applauded a decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allocate up to $95 million in funding to help farmers accelerate cover crop adoption.
The funding will support Farmers for Soil Health, which works to advance conservation practices to improve soil health across the U.S. The collaborative is comprised of commodity groups, including the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, the National Pork Board, and the United Soybean Board. The group also includes the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Association of Conservation Districts, the Sustainability Consortium, the Soil Health Institute, the Center for Regenerative Agriculture and DTN.
“We are appreciative of the USDA for recognizing the important role farmers play in combatting climate change,” said NCGA Vice President of Production and Sustainability Nathan Fields. “These funds will help us identify and support practices that work for corn growers, expand the use of cover crops and build on our efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions.”
The funding will help NCGA reach 30 million acres of cover crop by 2030, Fields noted, by funding cost share and technical assistance.
USDA has credited the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance, of which NCGA is a member, with providing recommendations that served as a guidepost when developing Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities.
The project is expected to launch in 2023.
