
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 have joined forces to implement the Cover Crop Premium Discount Program for the fifth year in a row.
This program will reward farmers who plant cover crops by providing a reduced premium on their crop insurance. The discount program was designed to promote planting additional acres of cover crops that are not covered by other state or federal incentives. This program is eligible for 50 out of the 92 counties in Indiana.
"Our agency is thrilled that we were able to roll out this program again thanks to the support from USDA and The Nature Conservancy," said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. "Last year this program was available to 26 counties and we have nearly doubled that for 2025. Cover Crops provide numerous benefits for soil health, but they come at a cost, so this program is key to ensuring farmers have the support necessary to build up their soil health."
Over the last year, this program has had great success with 101 farmers participating, resulting in more than 30,000 acres of cover crops on Indiana farmland in the watershed.
This program will provide farmers with a unique opportunity to receive financial incentives for implementing cover crops on their operation. Farmers who plant cover crops on owned or rented acres will receive a $5 per acre crop insurance premium discount. Farmers who planted cover crops in the fall of 2024 are eligible to apply.
Qualifying counties in the project area include Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Clark, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Dubois, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Gibson, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Harrison, Hendricks, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Ohio, Orange, Owen, Perry, Pike, Posey, Randolph, Ripley, Rush, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Switzerland, Tipton, Union, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Washington, Wayne.
Cover cropping has many benefits including increased organic matter, improved soil biology as well as better water infiltration and water-holding capacity. This practice also prevents nutrients and sediment from running off the farm, keeping them out of nearby waterbodies and streams. Hoosier farmers planted a record 1.7 million acres of living covers in 2023 and, apart from corn and soybeans, are planted on more acres than any other commodity crop in Indiana.
Seeding of cover crops must follow best agronomic practices in terms of appropriate seeding rates, seed mixes and seeding dates to ensure objectives of the cover crop are being met. To ensure the practice provides the best results, termination must be completed in the spring. Enrollment is first come-first served and there is a 750 acre cap. This program is also only available to fields not enrolled in other conservation programs.
Larry Clemens, the Indiana State Director of The Nature Conservancy shared, “we are excited to again support the Cover Crop Premium program and offer an additional option to Indiana farmers that are nationally leading the way in the adoption of soil health practices.” Clemens continued, “the Cover Crop Premium program jumped from 26 Indiana counties last year to 50 this year, giving more farmers flexible solutions to continue and expand the use of cover crops outside of other programs. Cover crops improve soil health, water quality, water holding capacity of soils, and they can sequester carbon, decrease weed pressure and reduce the cost of inputs.”
The program is funded by a Clean Water Indiana grant and support provided to The Nature Conservancy by the Cummins Foundation and CenterPoint Foundation.
Applications are due March 15, 2025, or when available funds are exhausted. Learn more and apply here or visit isda.in.gov.

Premier Ag is hosting a Winter Meeting for crop farmers on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at Spring Mill Inn (333 St. Rd. 60 E., Mitchell) from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm. Topics include:
crop nutrient demands, biologicals and additives, adjuvants and deposition aids.
Private applicator credits (PARP) are approved for the meeting and commercial applicator credits have been applied for. Lunch is provided.

Washington County Sheep Association Annual Meeting, February 17
Sheep producers are invited to the Washington County Sheep Association's Annual Meeting on Monday, February 17, 2025 at Southern Hills Church (1645 S. St. Rd. 135, Salem) at 6:30 pm. The meeting includes a meal, speaker, and association business. RSVP to the Extension office by Monday, February 10, 2025. Annual Dues are $10 per family and can be paid at the annual meeting or the Extension office.

Since 2014, Nationwide has been collaborating with industry leaders and agricultural professionals to host Grain Bin Safety Week, an annual event held the third full week of February.
Grain Bin Safety Week 2025 (February 16-20) raises awareness about the dangers of working in and around grain bins. It emphasizes the importance of grain bin safety practices and the role of grain rescue equipment and training for first responders in preventing life-threatening grain bin entrapments.
"Grain bin accidents can tragically impact individuals, families and entire communities," said Brad Liggett, president of Nationwide Agribusiness. "Accident prevention means everyone working together, and Grain Bin Safety Week provides a forum for the agricultural community to help keep people safe."
Win grain bin safety equipment for your local fire department
The Nominate Your Fire Department Contest runs from January 1 through April 30 and awards grain rescue tubes and hands-on training to help first responders save lives.
In collaboration with the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) and others, the contest has attracted over 12,000 nominations, resulting in the awarding of grain rescue tubes and training to 390 fire departments across 32 states. These efforts have directly contributed to saving at least 13 lives.
Find a grain rescue tube in your area
Check out our list of grain rescue tube recipients to find the nearest grain rescue tube in your area. If your community doesn’t have one, consider nominating your fire department to help them be ready for future grain entrapment emergencies.
How to enter
Nominations can be submitted one of three ways:
- Online: January 1 – April 30
- Email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Mail: NECAS, Grain Bin Safety Ag Contest, 8342 NICC Dr., Peosta, IA 52068
To enter, describe how the fire department or emergency rescue team and rural community would benefit from receiving grain entrapment training and a rescue tube. Nominators must provide their name, occupation, phone number, mailing and email address; and the name, address and phone number of the fire department or emergency rescue team being nominated.
See Official rules and prize descriptions (PDF)
Help us raise awareness and save lives
Grain Bin Safety Week is made possible through the generous support of community members like you. To help promote this vital cause, we’ve provided a news release and other promotional resources. However, there’s still more work to be done.
If you’d like to get involved or sponsor a grain rescue tube and training for your local fire department, visit our Partner with Us page.
You can also support this initiative by making a donation at www.necasag.org/gbsw or reaching out to

Ag. Outlook Breakfast
Purdue Extension - Washington County is hosting the 2025 Ag. Outlook Breakfast on Friday, February 28, 2025 from 8:30-10:30 am in the Meeting Room of the Washington County Government Building (806 Martinsburg Rd., Salem). Breakfast is provided through generous sponsorship from Premier Ag.
The program is free to the public and is designed to help farmers, landowners, and agribusiness managers make better business decisions in the coming year. Dr. Michael Langemeier, Purdue University Agricultural Economics, will discuss grain and livestock market outlooks for the year ahead and factors impacting market trends. A Premier Ag. Representative will discuss the supply/demand relationship to input availability.
RSVPs are required by Friday, February 21, 2025 by contacting Purdue Extension – Washington County at
Individuals unable to attend the Washington County program are encouraged to participate in the Purdue Extension - Clark Co. Ag. Outlook Luncheon on Friday, February 28 from 12:30-2:30 pm at the Clark Co. Fairgrounds (9608 Hwy. 62, Charlestown, IN 47111). RSVPS are required by Friday, February 21 by calling 812-256-4591 or emailing
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