How Often Are Farmers Using Cover Crops?

Cover crops, the farming community hears a lot about them, but how often are they being implemented nationwide?   That is the focus of the recently released 2026 National Cover Crop Report, a survey conducted in part by USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. 

“There continues to be a pretty good-sized interest in cover crops, implementing cover crops, continuing to use cover crops in their cropping systems," Agriculture Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce said.

The survey showed 68% of surveyed producers planting cover crops last year, and another 16% say they utilize cover crops some years.  Another finding the survey, Fordyce pointed out, is one out of three producers planting cover crops use it as a source of livestock forage.

“That's some pretty valuable forage that can help livestock producers maybe stretch out their hay supply or just be an alternative source of forage,” he said.

In addition to planting more cover crop acres, the survey also shows farmers are increasingly using technology, such as drones and AI, to manage those acres.

The survey shows 15 farming operations in Washington use participated in the cover crop survey, while Idaho and Oregon both reported 4 farms that participated.  Missouri was the top state at 80 farms responding.

Click Here to read the 2026 National Cover Crop Report.

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