Fifth annual cover crop survey results

The 2016-2017 cover crop survey report from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension (SARE) program, Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is now available.  Supported for the fifth year in a row by the SARE program, ASTA, and conducted by CTIC, the online survey gathered insights into growers’ practices, preferences and concerns about cover crops. 

Following the use of cover crops, farmers reported increased yields of corn, soybeans and wheat, and improvement in the control of herbicide-resistant weeds. In addition, the survey of 2,012 farmers showed acreage planted in cover crops has nearly doubled over the past five years.

Survey participants—88% of whom use cover crops—reported that after cover crops:

• Corn yields increased an average of 2.3 bushels per acre, or 1.3 percent;
• Soybean yields increased 2.1 bushels per acre, or 3.8 percent;
• Wheat yields increased 1.9 bushels per acre, or 2.8 percent.

This marks the fifth consecutive year in which the survey reported yield increases in corn and soybeans following cover crops.

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