If you couldn’t plant crops due to flooded or wet fields, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has a program to help.
A special Environmental Quality Incentive Program sign-up is open through Friday, July 12.
The EQIP invites farmers to plant a cover crop that can later be cut for hay or graze, and provides an alternative to leaving fields to go fallow and uncovered. Landowners are encouraged to coordinate with USDA farm agencies when participating in related programs.
The USDA hopes cover crops will increase water quality, suppress weeds and improve soil health in areas not planted.
According to the NRCS, cover crops “bring soil vitality by adding nutrients and organic matter. Many fields that are saturated for a long time face a loss of soil organisms. Cover crop roots reestablish soil health and create pathways for air and water to move through the soil, which is key to restoring it.”
To apply in Meeker County, call the NRCS office at 320-864-5177.
Applications will be ranked based on environmental benefits. Request a fact sheet for more information.
