Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, the use of cover crops among American farmers remains widespread, according to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. Michael Langemeier, an agricultural economist, reported that producers are applying cover crops to approximately 42% of their farmland on average. While adoption rates are high, retention remains a challenge.
“Many farmers are relatively new to this practice, with fewer than five years of experience,” Langemeier noted. “Others have been using cover crops for over two decades, but the average duration stands at about a decade.”
He added that while initial uptake is strong, some producers discontinue the practice. “Some may try it due to incentive payments, but if results don’t meet expectations, they stop,” he explained. The survey revealed that around 20% of farmers who previously used cover crops are no longer doing so. Additionally, nearly 25% of respondents have never implemented the technique on their operations.
The Ag Economy Barometer, which surveys 400 U.S. agricultural producers monthly, serves as a national indicator of economic sentiment within the farming sector.
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Cover crop adoption remains strong despite economic uncertainty
An ag economist says cover crop adoption remains strong despite economic uncertainty. n nMichael Langemeier says the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer shows survey respondents are using an average of 42 percent of their acres for cover crops. n
“There’s still quite a few producers that are just starting cover crops with less than five years of adoption,” he says. “There’s also of course, producers where they’ve been doing this 20 plus years, but the average is right around 10 years.” n
He tells Brownfield adoption is high, but retention is a problem. n
“Maybe they’ll get some incentive payments to try cover crops, and it doesn’t work out,” he says. “There’s been quite a bit of this adoption over the years with cover crops. With this survey, it’s about 20 percent of producers that used cover crops in the past that are currently not using them.” n
Langemeier says nearly 25 percent of producers surveyed have never used cover crops on their operation. n
The Barometer is a nationwide measure of the health of the U.S. agricultural economy and surveys 400 agricultural producers on economic sentiment each month.