Increased crop yields, weed suppression are benefits of cover crops

Farmers across the nation are using more cover crops than ever before, and enjoying a number of benefits from them from improved yield to weed suppression. That’s according to the 2017 Cover Crop Survey, conducted by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education and the Conservation Technology Information Center, the findings of which were released Sept. 15.

Based on 2,012 farmers responding to the survey, cash crop yields following cover crops increased for all crops:

• Corn, 2.3 bushels per acre;

• Soybeans, 2.1 bushels per acre; and

• Wheat, 1.9 bushels per acre.

“That’s the most eye-catching of all the information to come from our surveys so far,” said Chad Watts, executive director of the CTIC.

“We see that about 92 percent of the farmers in the survey saw improved or unchanged weed control. Many farmers are seeing a benefit to weed control using this kind of system,” Watts said. About 59 percent of the farmers responding had some kind of herbicide resistant weed problem.

Planting trends

Since SARE and CTIC began their annual cover crop survey in 2012, there has been a steady increase in cover crop acreage among participants. In this year’s survey, farmers said they committed an average of 400 acres each to cover crops in 2016, up from 217 acres per farm in 2012. They expected to increase their cover crop planting in 2017 to an average of 451 acres.

“Overall, we find that once farmers have used cover crops, they see multiple benefits and that’s why they continue to use them,” said Rob Myers, regional director of Extension at SARE’s North Central Region.

The timing of cover crop planting is also evolving.

Cover crops are typically planted in the off-season from cash crops, providing ground cover, nutrient sequestration and scavenging, weed suppression and soil health improvements. Approximately three out of four cover crop acres in the survey were planted after harvesting a cash crop, but the practice of inter-seeding covers into growing cash crops is an emerging trend—27 percent of the respondents said they seeded cover crops at sidedress fertilization time or in late summer.

At the other end of the cycle, “planting green”—seeding cash crops directly into living, green cover crops, then terminating the covers—had been tried or used by 39 percent of the respondents. They said the approach helped suppress weeds, manage soil moisture and maximize other benefits of cover crops. Planting green was uncommon just a few years ago.

Watts said more growers are beginning to use mixes of different cover crop species, including grasses, legumes and brassicas. Overall, cereal rye is the most popular single species grown by farmers. Crimson clover, hairy vetch and winter peas are the most popular legume while radishes, rapeseed and turnips are the most popular brassicas.

Motivation behind cover crop use

One of the most important outcomes of the SARE/CTIC Cover Crop Survey is insight into what motivates farmers to use—or start using—cover crops, Watts said.

“Among cover crop users, we are seeing great enthusiasm for the soil health benefits of cover crops, with a widespread appreciation for the long-term benefits of covers,” he said. “We’re also seeing openness to practices like inter-seeding and planting green, which raises cover crop use to the next level in terms of creating new options for species and mixes, and new opportunities to get even greater benefits from their covers.”

Watts added that non-users of cover crops cite a need for additional training and resources in order to begin planting them. He advised farmers to start small, learn about them and build their acreage devoted to cover crops.

“Success doesn’t happen overnight. You’ll have to be patient,” he said. “But the benefits are worth the wait.”

More details on the survey are available at www.sare.org/covercropsurvey.

Bill Spiegel can be reached at bspiegel@hpj.com or 785-587-7796.

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