Due to wet conditions across Iowa, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Con­­servation Service (NRCS) has extended the deadline to access cost share for planting winter hardy cover crops.

State Conservationist Kurt Simon says the two-week extension should allow many more farmers time to get cover crops planted but emphasizes the importance of planting them as soon as possible. “There is a very important window right now to get winter-hardy cover crops established this fall,” he said. The revised cover crop seeding dates for winter-hardy cover crops are Nov. 5 for northern Iowa, Nov. 12 for central Iowa and Nov. 19 for southern Iowa.

Farmers approved for financial assistance who are still unable to plant cover crops should contact their local NRCS office.