Illinois Cover Crop Incentive Pre‑Enrollment Opens

Thought you’d want to see this — the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is launching the 2025–26 round of Fall Covers for Spring Savings (FCSS) — and if you manage farmland or plan to farm, this could be a timely opportunity.

What's The Deal?

• FCSS gives a discount up to $5 per acre on next year’s crop‑insurance premiums for farmers who seeded fall 2025 cover crops and will insure those same acres in 2026. illinois.gov+2WNOI 103.9/99.3+2

• The 2025‑26 program will fund up to 190,000 acres — on a first‑come, first‑served basis. illinois.gov+2illinois.gov+2

• Pre‑enrollment begins 8:00 a.m. CST on December 3, 2025. illinois.gov+1

• Applications can be submitted starting at 8:00 a.m. CST on December 15, 2025, and the window stays open until 11:59 p.m. CST on January 15, 2026. illinois.gov+2wfiwradio.com+2

✅ What you need to do (if you want to apply)

• Plant cover crops in fall 2025, and plan to plant an insurable crop in 2026 on those same acres. illinois.gov+1

• Certify your cover‑crop acres with the local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office and have a current FSA‑578 form ready. illinois.gov+2WNOI 103.9/99.3+2

• Be enrolled in a federal crop‑insurance policy through USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) — the discount only applies if you have premium liability under that insurance. agr.illinois.gov+1

• Don’t apply for acreage already covered by other state or federal cover‑crop cost‑share programs — FCSS aims to support additional acres beyond existing incentives. agr.illinois.gov+2WNOI 103.9/99.3+2

⚠ Why this matters — and why you should act fast

The FCSS program is one of the state’s few direct financial incentives for cover crops, and demand has historically outstripped supply — past rounds sold out in hours. ilcorn.org+2illinoisagconnection.com+2 By reducing risk via insurance‑premium discounts, the program lowers one of the financial barriers for cover‑crop adoption. At the same time, broader adoption supports soil health, reduces erosion, and helps curb nutrient runoff — important in light of statewide nutrient‑loss reduction goals. American Farmland Trust+2Investigate Midwest+2

If this aligns with any of your farmland plans — or the agriculture side of Illinois Drone Solutions — it might be worth hitting the pre‑enrollment window on December 3 to line up your application.

For top-quality seeds and services, give Rick Taylor a call at 618-839-7762.

Need answers, ideas, or just someone who speaks fluent "drone"? Stop in and say hi - we're always happy to talk shop.

Illinois Drone Solutions ~ 508 Mulberry Street, Cisne, iL 62823 ~ 618.673.2179