Farmers: Cover Crops Are On 40% of Cropland

A new USDA survey says cover crops are more popular than first thought.  Growers who responded to the survey say they’re using cover crops on 40% of their cropland in 2022.  Successful Farming says that hints at a sizable increase from the 15.4 million acres of cover crops listed in the 2017 Census of Agriculture.  

The USDA’s Conservation Practice Adoption Motivations 2021 Report said a large number of farmers, 59%, use cover crops on their farms.  That’s from a survey of 34,000 farmers that ran from May through September.  Farmers said they used cover crops on 40% of their cropland.

Last month, the Ag Economy Barometer, which surveys large-scale farmers, said 57% of respondents used cover crops on at least some of their land, a jump up from 52 percent in 2021.  Half of those farmers say they sowed cover crops on 25% or less of their land.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com