Cover crops are grasses, legumes, and forbs that are planted for seasonal vegetative cover with the purpose of reducing erosion, increasing organic matter and soil health, improving soil moisture, and much more.

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Incentives are available for planting cover crops

• $80/acre for anyone entering into a cost share contract.

• Contracts can be single year or multi-year. 

The Scott SWCD has a cover crop inter-seeder and two no-till drills available for rent at $10/acre and a drop charge of $150. Aerial cover crop application is coordinated every August by the SWCD. Contact us by July to sign up. 

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Contact the SWCD for more information. 
Find out about all our rental equipment program here.

SWCD technicians can assist farmers with many different soil health practices, and incentives are available for the implementation for many of them. 

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• High residue management (no till, strip till, vertical tillage): $50/acre

• Variable rate application of fertilizer: $20/acre

• Manure or soil health sampling: 75% cost share up to $1,000

The Scott County Soil Health Team is made up of local producers who meet quarterly to exchange ideas and discuss successes and failures with different sustainable ag practices. They also work with the Scott SWCD and Scott WMO to shape the future of our Soil Health Program. 

If you are interested in joining the Soil Health Team or if you would like to attend a meeting, let us know!

The Scott SWCD offers multiple cover crop and soil health workshops and field days. These events provide producers with information and local examples to help them move forward with cover crops.

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To view upcoming workshops, visit our Events page.