Ducks Unlimited Midwest Cover Crop Initiative

Ducks Unlimited partnered with Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) and Farmers Business Network (FBN) to promote sustainable agricultural practices. The initiative aims to incentivize producers in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio to implement 320,000 acres of cover crops across the three states. This is a privately funded initiative (ADM and FBN provide the financial backing), not an NRCS program.

The program targets row-crop farmers in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan who grow wheat, corn, or soybeans in rotation. Specific requirements vary by state and practice type; some tiers exclude concurrent EQIP/CSP/RCPP enrollment.

Compensation ranges from $10–$25 per acre, determined by state (Indiana, Ohio, Michigan), practice type (new cover crop implementation, expanded practices, or basic planting), and prior participation in federal programs. Additional payments are available for no-till, strip-till, living root, and nitrogen-balance practices on wheat. Enrollment involves a one-year ADM contract and planting covers per NRCS standards.

Contact a DU or ADM representative via the online form, complete a consultation and eligibility survey, sign the ADM one-year contract, complete FBN onboarding and data entry, plant covers per NRCS standards, and submit a closing survey to receive the annual per-acre payment.