An April 15 webinar focused on results of the eighth National Cover Crop Survey, conducted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). A total of 650 respondents from 47 states participated in the most recent survey, which was the first to include farm advisors. The survey provides plenty of insight on advisors’ attitudes on cover crops, how they acquire their scientific information and how producers might take advantage of incentive and assistance programs for cover crop production. 

Among the highlights: The survey showed that 56.9 percent of farm advisors polled expect to see cover crop acreage continue to increase. In addition, the advisors expect farmers to continue increasing their use of cover crop mixes (46.7 percent) and combining other soil health practices with cover crops (52.9 percent).

“Our advisors ranged from soil and water district and local NRCS personnel, to nonprofits, seed dealers and folks at ag retail,” said Ryan Heiniger, executive director of CTIC. These advisors included 56 from Illinois, 30 from Indiana and 41 from Ohio. “We had a tremendous response rate, with some 77 percent identified as certified crop advisors.”  

Heiniger added, “We also observed that seeing is believing, which is borne out by the fact that approximately 70 percent of the respondents who farm themselves use cover crops on their own operations, and those cover crop users are more inclined to advise their clients on the practice.”  

Other survey highlights included:

The advisors who used cover crops on their own farms were five times more likely to recommend cover crops to farmers not yet using them, compared to advisors who did not farm with cover crops themselves.

Advisors using cover crops on their own farms tended to have a much higher percentage of clients using cover crops — 22.3 percent of the advisors who use cover crops themselves reported 25-50 percent of their clients are using covers, compared to 9.1 percent at the same level of adoption among clients of advisors who did not personally use cover crops.

The farm advisors surveyed used a wide range of information sources to learn about cover crops. Advisors who reported that they learned about cover crops on the job rather than through formal academic or training channels preferred training sessions (63.9 percent) and webinars (57.4 percent) for learning new cover crop insights, but also liked learning from farmers one-on-one (58.3 percent) and by visiting field trials (30.6 percent).

Looking ahead, the advisors expected a moderate amount of interest in newer cover crop topics like planting green (29.2 percent), grazing cover crops (32.2 percent), and others. 

“Cover crops have served as a valuable tool for producers in achieving specific environmental and economic goals,” said Andy LaVigne, president and CEO of ASTA. “Whether you are addressing concerns affecting your operation or seeking the environmental or economic impacts associated with the use of cover crops, the seed industry remains committed to ensuring that farmers and landowners have access to high quality, professionally produced seed to achieve your goals on your operation.” 

Rob Myers, an Illinois farmer, cover crop “guru” and regional director of extension programs for North Central Region SARE, discussed survey results pertaining to barriers to cover crop usage. “These perceptions are driving farmers’ decision-making,” he said. “The two big ones are the economic return (73 percent). There are questions from those who have not yet used them about whether they are going to pay off, and that is understandable.” 

The potential for yield reduction of the following-year cash crop was also a concern of 54 percent of respondents asked to name barriers to cover crop adaptation. Increased production risk was named by 31 percent. Time and labor involved was also cited by 73 percent of respondents. 

“We can look at our past cover crop surveys of farmers to see quite a bit of economic data that actually does show that cover crops pay off, especially after the first two or three years,” said Myers. “This is a perception that holds some farmers back. The time and labor issue has been addressed by some farmers who use cover crops. They are hiring their ag retailer to put on their cover crop or aerial applicator. We are starting to see cover crops applied by drones, and farmers are providing the service of seeding cover crops for their neighbors.”  

Heiniger said that he is hopeful that many of the farmers who were initially reluctant to try cover crops but have now been planting them for years will step into leadership advisory roles for the next generation of conservation-minded farmers. “40 percent of the farmers who responded to our last survey had 10 years on the job with expertise in delivering cover crops on their farms. I still believe they represent a huge untapped level of intellectual property to help us to expand and other farmers be successful in their adoption of cover crops,” he said.

“Data collected shows us that interest remains strong and further emphasizes the valuable role cover crops can play in farm systems,” said LaVigne.”The benefits afforded to producers through conservation practices, including the use of cover crops, depend on the right seed tailored to the specific goals and conditions of each unique farming operation.”

For more information on the CTIC/SARE/ASTA National Cover Crop Survey Report 2024-2025, visit https://www.ctic.org/data/Cover_Crops_Research_and_Demonstration_Cover_Crop_Survey