A cover crop must achieve conservation purposes and minimize risk of reducing yields to the following crop due to soil water use.
Your local NRCS office has a list of appropriate cover crop species, seeding rates, expected growth rates and biomass and other pertinent information for your locale.
If you hay, graze or harvest before November 1, the following applies:
- If the cover crop was planted during the late planted period, you will not receive a prevented planting payment for your first crop.
- If the cover crop was planted after the late planting period, you may receive 35 percent of a prevented planting payment for your first crop; if you wait to hay/graze November 1 or later, your first crop may qualify for a full prevented planting payment.