You do not need to submit separate application forms if you’re using cover crops on some fields and reduced tillage on others, simply include all fields in one submission.
Project Guidelines and Application
Residue Cover Guidelines
The Residue Cover Application Form collects information on both cover crop and tillage practices for each field. This information is used to determine eligibility and assign the appropriate incentive rate.
Incentives for Cover Crops and Reduced Tillage cannot be combined on the same field, unless bonus criteria are met.
Bonus Incentive
A $20/acre bonus is available when:
- Cover crops provide 80% or greater residue cover over winter, and
- The spring crop is planted using no-till or strip-till methods
Funding Approach
Funding priority is given to operations adopting new practices and those new to the Phosphorus Program. If you participated in Year 1 or 2 of the program, funding for practices that are not new to your operation will be limited to 50% of total eligible acres per applicants. Remaining acres will be placed and a waitlist.
Waitlist Policy
- Waitlisted acres may become eligible later in the program year if funding becomes available
- Operations that are adding any new eligible practice (e.g. 4Rs, tree planting, erosion control structures) will be exempt from the waitlist, subject to available program funds
- This approach is intended to encourage the adoption and stacking of additional beneficial management practices (BMPs) on each operation
Cover Crop Projects
Rates
- $30/acre – Cover Crops Left Overwinter
- $15/acre – Cover Crops that are Harvested/Grazed
Funding cannot be stacked with other funding programs
Requirements
- Field(s) must be in the Upper Thames watershed, with the exception of fields within the Municipality of South Huron who are not eligible.
- Only cover crops that were planted in 2026 and will be left over winter are eligible.
- Practices from past seasons or future years will not be considered
- All fields will be inspected by March 31, 2027 to determine if they meet the overwinter residue requirements of 60% residue. On a case-by-case basis, exceptions to the 60% requirement may be granted where cover crops are a new practice or where establishment of a late season cover crops was impacted by weather
Eligible Practices
- Cover crops seeded with or into an annual crop
- Cover crops seeded following the harvest of an annual crop
- Single or multi-species cover crops
- Fall burndown is allowed if spring residue meets criteria
- Cover crops planted with intent to graze or harvest as forage, at any point (fall or spring), are eligible for $15/acre
Ineligible Practices
- Crops harvested as a marketable grain crop the next year (eg. Winter wheat)
- Alfalfa
- Canola
- Triticale as a single species
- Planting an invasive species
Audit Process
All fields will be inspected by March 31, 2027 to determine if they meet the overwinter residue requirements of 60% residue. On a case-by-case basis, exceptions to the 60% requirement may be granted where cover crops are a new practice or where establishment of a late season cover crops was impacted by weather.
Reduced Tillage Projects
Rates
- $30/acre – No Fall Tillage or Fall Strip Till
- $15/acre – Fall Vertical Tillage
Funding cannot be stacked with other funding programs
Requirements
- Field(s) must be in the Upper Thames watershed, with the exception of fields within the Municipality of South Huron who are not eligible.
- Only reduced tillage practices implemented during 2026-2027 non-growing season (winter) are eligible. Practices from past seasons or future years will not be considered
- All fields will be inspected by March 31, 2027 to determine if they meet overwinter residue requirements. A minimum of 80% residue is required for reduced tillage projects
Eligible Practices
- No Fall Tillage › Crop residue left untouched overwinter (e.g. untouched grain, corn stalks, or wheat stubble)
- Fall Strip-Till › Crop residue strip-tilled in the fall
- Fall Vertical Till › Fall vertical till crop residue
- No-Till or Strip-Till › Planting of corn or beans into forage residue
Ineligible Practices
- Fall use of disk rippers or chisel plows
- Soybean/bean stubble left untouched over winter
- Any fall tillage on soybean/bean stubble
- Silage corn stubble without adding a cover crop
- No-till planting of winter wheat, other cereals or forages
- Perennial forages left overwinter
- Unharvested corn or bean fields
Audit Process
All fields will be inspected by March 31, 2027 to determine if they meet overwinter residue requirements. A minimum of 80% residue is required for reduced tillage projects.