- 1,229 farmers answered the online survey
- 47 states represented in the results
- 84% of respondents have planted cover crops
- 3.66 more bushels per acre of corn after planting cover crops
- 2.19 more bushels per acre of soybean after planting cover crops
- 92% of producers who do not plant cover crops would be motivated to plant if there were economic incentives
- 300 acres is the average expected acreage of cover crop planting for 2015
- 84% of cover crops planted were cereal grains and grasses
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| Cereal rye (Secale cereale) is the most common cereal grain or grass planted as a cover crop. Image by Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org |
Benefits of cover crops:
- Increased yield
- Increased organic matter
- Improvement of soil health
- Improved weed control
- Reduced erosion
To learn more about the motivations of cover crop users and other information resulting from this survey: 2015 Cover Crop Survey
For a summarized report: 2015 Cover Crop Survey Analysis
Need help figuring out what cover crop to plant: USDA Cover Crop Chart
