The COVER Act of 2023 establishes a Good Steward Cover Crop program that provides financial incentives to farmers who plant cover crops while maintaining crop insurance on their primary crops. Under the program, eligible producers receive $5 per acre in additional premium subsidies for planting qualifying cover crops like grasses, legumes, and other vegetation approved by the Department of Agriculture, provided they also purchase crop insurance for their main crops. The bill allocates mandatory funding starting at $60 million in fiscal year 2024 and increasing to $84 million by fiscal year 2028, with up to $5 million per year reserved for technical assistance and outreach. The legislation also establishes a separate soil health pilot program allowing the crop insurance corporation to test additional premium subsidies for farmers using innovative soil health practices through partnerships with private insurance companies. The Secretary of Agriculture must submit annual reports to Congress tracking participation and outcomes, and conduct a study within four years to determine whether cover crops reduce insurance claims and stabilize yields.
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