Survey: Cover Crops Continue to Boost Yields

According to recent survey data, cover crops continue to benefit corn and soybean yields.
According to recent survey data, cover crops continue to benefit corn and soybean yields.

The “2015 Cover Crop Survey” conducted by the Conservation Technology Information Center has revealed that average acres of cover crops per farm have more than doubled over the past five years. This is the fifth year in a row that cover crops reported per farm have increased in average.

Additionally, cover crops increased corn yields last year by an average of 3.6 bushels per acre, while soybeans increased by approximately 2.2 bushels per acre. “It’s great to see the immediate benefits of yield increases from cover crops, and very exciting to see that the use of cover crops continues to expand,” said Chad Watts, CTIC program director.

The most-planted cover crop species over the past year has been cereal rye, but other popular crops include grasses, brassicas and legumes.

About 46 percent of cover crop users say they would plant more of these crops if it would reduce their crop insurance premiums. However, 59 percent say they have never received financial incentives to plant them. Out of the individuals who do not plant cover crops, 92 percent said incentives would influence their decision over crop adoption.

“These results illustrate that economic incentives can help encourage farmers to consider cover crops, but once they start using them, the multiple benefits they are seeing will motivate them to continue using covers,” said Rob Myers, director of Professional Development Extension Programs at the University of Missouri.

The Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education and American Seed Trade Association helped fund the survey. More than 1,200 farmers were asked to participate in the survey to compile the results.