MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will open the application period for crop insurance premium rebates for planting cover crops at 12 p.m. on December 1, 2025. DATCP administers this program in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency.
There is $800,000, or 160,000 acres of coverage, to be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Recipients will receive a $5 per acre rebate on their summer 2026 crop insurance premium for acres planted with cover crops in 2025, then planted to an insurable crop the following year.
Producers who received state or federal cost-sharing to plant cover crops in 2025 are not eligible for this year’s program. Applicants should use their FSA-578 form to complete the application, and there is no limit on acres an applicant can apply for. Applicants should keep seed receipts and planting records, as DATCP will conduct audits to ensure cover crops were planted.
The web-based rebate application, information about eligibility, and FAQs will be made available on covercroprebate.wi.gov. The application will remain open until 12 p.m. on January 30, 2026 or until program funding is exhausted. A copy of the application questions and instructions will be available for reference on covercroprebate.wi.gov. Questions should be directed to DATCPCC@wisconsin.gov.
In the 2025-2027 Executive Budget, Governor Evers and the state legislature reached a bipartisan agreement to include continued funding of $800,000 annually for the Crop Insurance Premium Rebates for Planting Cover Crops Program.
For more information on conservation programming, visit datcp.wi.gov or to sign-up for email updates.
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