In 2018, Peoples Company, a full-service farmland transaction and management business, began an initiative we were pleased to partner with them on — a paid-in-full cover crop program for landowners. Since its inception, there has been much interest in the initiative, and we’ve enjoyed watching the program grow each year. For the 2022–2023 season, 11 additional states are eligible to participate.
“Over the past four years, the Sustainability Cover Crop Initiative has been tremendously successful in increasing the usage of cover crops because landowners know it’s a win-win,” says Myron Stine, company president. “By strategically planting cover crops, landowners can protect natural resources like soil and water, decrease inputs needed to grow on unproductive acres, and increase the value of the farm by demonstrating high yields.”
The program was originally offered to landowners in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and Missouri. Now, the program is being expanded to include Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
“The expansion into these new states is a testament to the program’s success and the value it brings to the landowner,” says Stine. “Together with Peoples Company, our new goal is to achieve 25,000 acres over the next two years in the 16 eligible states. This demonstrates our collaborative commitment to sustainable farming practices and finding ways to improve the future of farming by protecting the environment where we work.”
Eligibility
While additional states can now access the program, much of the requirements for eligibility remain the same. Requirements include:
- Landowners must have land management accounts with Peoples Company, up to a maximum of 25,000 acres.
- Landowners must agree to have their land professionally managed by Peoples Company during a three-year term and agree to plant Stine Seed throughout this term.
- Cover crop seed and application decisions will be made by the land management professionals.
- For eligible landowners, the cover crop application will be covered up to $30/acre, with a minimum of 120 acres and a maximum of 500 acres planted per client.
- The program will be available to eligible landowners for the 2023 growing season.
“We are eager to continue our partnership with Peoples Company in this effort to expand the Sustainability Cover Crop Initiative because we know caring for the land is paramount to any farm’s success,” says Stine.
To learn more about the program and how you can enroll, visit www.CoverCropProgram.com or reach out to Peoples Company at LandManagement@PeoplesCompany.com or 855-800-5263.