Letter to the Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Clarification on Over-seeding Cover Crop Policies

Letter

As you know, the use of cover crops is rapidly expanding throughout the Midwest. Many farmers looking to improve their soil and prevent heavy rains from leaching nutrients out of fields have invested in this conservation practice over the last several years.

RMA currently refers to the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) cover crop termination guidelines to offer interested farmers guidance for using cover crops. While the guidelines are clear regarding how to terminate cover crops before planting an insured crop, they are ambiguous regarding over-seeding. Specifically, the guidelines state that over-seeding or inter-seeding can "occur at an appropriate time for the cover crop and germination, or into an existing crop at a time that will not impact the yield or harvest of the insured crop."

Over-seeding is an important option for planting cover crops on land in the Upper Midwest. The process expands the planting window that is otherwise limited to the time between harvest and the first hard freeze. Over-seeding allows cover crops to achieve more growth in the fall, which is key to the benefits they offer famers and land owners.

I have heard from producers that confusion exists between RMA and crop insurance companies regarding policies for over-seeding cover crops. In fact, some farmers have been told their crop insurance policies could be voided if they over-seed cover crops into corn. Therefore, I ask that RMA clarify the rules for over-seeding, perhaps by specifying a growth stage an insured crop should reach before over-seeding is acceptable.

I look forward to working with you to ensure federal policies do not inadvertently deter farmers from using cover crops to improve their soil and the environment.

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