The Iowa Seed Association is again offering cost-share for cover crop establishment following seed corn through the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative.  They are currently accepting applications for 2026 Cost-Share and encourage farmers to sign up online at https://forms.gle/vR5RYZFGAHvChfQu7.  

Through the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative, growers can receive cost-share on 100% of their seed corn production acres.  Cost-share for winter-hardy cover crops is $20/acre, while winterkill cover crops are $10/acre. An additional $10/acre is available for first-time cover crop users.  Receipt of cost-share funds from multiple State or Federal programs is not allowed. However, private funds, such as Practical Farmers of Iowa and Ducks Unlimited, are stackable with public cost-share programs.  Seed corn growers who use cover crops on other acres can maximize available cost-share by coordinating with the Iowa Seed Association and their local NRCS office.      

In 2025, over $500,000 in financial assistance was provided to seed corn growers through the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative for cost-share associated with cover crop conservation practices.  The Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative helps increase adoption of cover crops specifically within the seed corn production system in Iowa.  For more information, please visit www.sustainableseedcorn.org.