Cover Crop Premium Discount Program available for Hoosier farmers, new pre-enrollment available

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy, Indiana Agriculture Nutrient Alliance and the  United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency are once again offering the Cover Crop Premium Discount Program (CCPDP) for the sixth year in a row.

Partially funded through a Clean Water Indiana (CWI) grant, the CCPDP will provide farmers in 89 of Indiana's 92 counties with an opportunity to reduce their premiums on crop insurance.

Eligible farmers who planted cover crops in the fall on owned or rented acres could receive a $5 per acre crop insurance premium discount for up to 750 acres per producer. This program is only available to fields not enrolled in other conservation programs.

"This opportunity is an example of the work our department, along with partners in conservation, have offered to help benefit farmers and to support them in implementing best conservation practices," said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. "Conservation is one of the missions of ISDA, and I highly encourage eligible farmers to enroll in this cost-saving program."

New this year, pre-enrollment will be available starting Dec. 15, 2025. The program will officially open on Jan. 5, 2026. Enrollment is first come, first served. The deadline to enroll is March 15, 2026, or when available funds are exhausted.

Support for the program is provided by The Nature Conservancy, Cummins Foundation and CenterPoint Foundation.

Click here to learn more about the program, how to enroll and eligibility requirements.

Pictured above is a photo of annual rye, clover and radish cover crops on an Indiana field.