Section 50.68. Cover crop.

 

(1)   Definition. In this section, "cropland cover" means close-growing grasses, legumes, or small grain grown for any of the following purposes:

(a) To control erosion during periods when major crops do not furnish adequate cover.

(b) To add organic matter to the soil.

(c) To improve soil infiltration, aeration, or tilth.

(2)   Eligible costs. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may reimburse costs to establish cropland cover on a field that contributes to water quality degradation when crop harvesting during the growing season leaves the field without enough residue to provide adequate surface runoff protection.

(3)   Ineligible costs. A county land conservation committee may not, without prior department approval, provide cost-share grants under this section and s. ATCP 50.82 for the same acreage for the same year.

(4)   Design, construction, and maintenance. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may not reimburse any costs to establish cropland cover unless all of the following apply:

(a) The cropland cover meets NRCS technical guide cover crop standard 340 (August, 2015).

(b) The landowner agrees to maintain the cover and green manure crop in each cropping season for which cost-sharing is provided.

CR 01-090 : cr. Register September 2002 No. 561 , eff. 10-1-02; CR 08-075 : am. (title) and (4) (a) Register April 2009 No. 640 , eff. 5-1-09; CR 13-016 : am. (4) (a) Register February 2014 No. 698 , eff. 5-1-14; CR 14-047 : am. (4) (a) Register May 2015 No. 713 , eff. 6-1-15; CR 16-012 : am. (4) (a) Register August 2016 No. 728 , eff. 9-1-16.