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IOWA
| Program | Crop Insurance Discount for Cover Crops | Iowa Water Quality Initiative (WQI) | Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy |
| Description of Program | Crop insurance premium reduction to producers utilizing cover crops. The program will provide a $5/acre premium discount to eligible applicants utilizing cover crops and will be available for fall planted cover crops with a spring planted cash crop. | The Iowa Water Quality Initiative (WQI) is the action plan for the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS). The WQI cost share funds help farmers and landowners install nutrient-reduction conservation practices around the state. The funds can be used to off-set the cost of cover crops, no-till/strip till or a nitrification inhibitor, which help improve soil health, reduce erosion and improve water quality. | The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS) is designed to direct efforts to reduce nutrients in surface water from both point and nonpoint sources in a scientific, reasonable and cost effective manner. The NRS provides a roadmap to achieve a 45% reduction in Nitrogen and Phosphorous losses to Iowa waters using an integrated approach that includes point and non-point sources working together. |
| Agricultural System Focus | Crop | Crop & Livestock | Crop & Livestock |
| Implementation Process | Unclear | Unclear | The Iowa strategy outlines a pragmatic approach for reducing nutrient loads discharged from the state’s largest wastewater treatment plants, in combination with targeted practices designed to reduce loads from nonpoint sources such as farm fields. |
| Agency Managing the Program | IA Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Verification Process | Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) can request seed bills, seeding method, timing for confirmation. IDALS also conducting random spot checks on fields. Final verification process done through FSA with the RMA | Unclear | Unclear |
| Is it providing an incentive? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Incentive Type | Insurance Discount | Cost share | Cost share |
| Link for more information | https://www.cleanwateriowa.org/cropinsurancediscount | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/SD/1129881.pdf https://www.cleanwateriowa.org/water-quality-initiative | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/SD/1129881.pdf https://www.cleanwateriowa.org/water-quality-initiative |