The Fiscal Year 2027 bond bill (HB 275) slashes Delaware’s cover crop investment from $6.4 million in FY 2026 to just $3.8 million, putting one of agriculture’s most effective voluntary conservation programs at serious risk.

This cut comes at the worst possible time. Farmers are facing record‑high input costs for fertilizer, fuel, seed, fuel, and equipment, along with ongoing weather and market uncertainty. Reducing cover crop funding will mean fewer acres enrolled, fewer farmers able to participate, and more cost and risk pushed back onto the farm gate.

Cover crops don’t generate income, but they do protect soil, reduce input losses, improve field resilience, and help farmers stay ahead of regulation. These benefits remain accessible only when strong cost-share support is in place.

Delaware’s cover crop program works because it is voluntary, incentive‑based, and farmer‑driven. Cutting funding undermines years of progress and threatens a conservation approach that respects farm economics.