Survey Shows Farmers Save on Cover Crops
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Cover crops are a valuable method for farmers, who report saving money by planting them. Not only have cover crops diminished input costs, but they have also improved the health of soils and increased or maintained crop yields.
The 2019-2020 Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) National Crop Survey includes the responses of 1,172 farmers from all across the United States. SARE partnered with the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) to explore the experiences of these farmers.
The results of the survey show that farmers saved money on cover crops and reaped many other benefits, too.
A Challenging Year
Last year was more challenging than others, as nearly 80% of respondents began their planting later than expected due to wet weather conditions. Besides the wet weather, COVID-19 left farmers with uncertainty and a collapsed economy, so markets that bought farmers’ crops or livestock either eliminated purchasing due to the lockdown or decreased how much they purchased.
However, the practice of cover cropping has increased over the years, and this survey zeroed in on those implementing planting green — which is seeding a cash crop into an already active cover crop. Over 90% of respondents reported that they used cover crops, and more than half of those who planted green said the practice yielded benefits to their crops.
Over the past five years, there has been a steady increase in the number of acres used for cover crops. In 2015, 337 acres of cover crops were averaged per farmer. Last year, that number was 465 acres, almost a 40% increase since 2015, and that number is bound to go up according to 2020 intentions of planting cover crops.
Motivations, Yields and Weed Control
Farmers reported various reasons as to why they planted cover crops. The leading motivation was to improve soil health and structure. Other motivations closely followed, like managing weeds, reducing erosion and improving the water filtration system. The motivations that scored lower included insect control, dust reduction and even aesthetics.
According to the survey results, cover crops produced higher yields for soybeans, corn and wheat. For soybeans, farmers who did not plant a cover crop yielded 51.8 bushels per acre, while those who did plant cover crops yielded 54.4 bushels per acre, which is about a 5% increase.
Corn averaged an extra 2% yield with cover crops and wheat gained a 2.6% yield if the farmers used cover crops. While these are not significant increases, the farmers who planted cover crops can benefit from better soil quality and savings.
Survey respondents also saw an improvement in weed control because of using a cereal rye cover crop. Out of those who used this cover crop — 317 farmers reported that they did — 289 said they saw an improvement in herbicide-resistant weed control.
Savings
One of the most significant benefits of planting cover crops and planting green was that farmers were able to save money. Even just one dollar per acre of savings for growing supplies such as fertilizers and herbicides adds up to a significant amount of savings for the overall farm and frees up capital for other expenses associated with growing operations and agriculture.
Below are some of the most notable savings from this year’s Cover Crop Survey:
● Fertilizers: Nearly half of the survey respondents noted that they saved anywhere from $1 to $20 per acre on fertilizer for corn crops. Out of those who plant soybeans, fertilizer costs fell for about 40% of them. About 43% of spring wheat farmers and over 50% of cotton growers saved money as a result of planting cover crops.
● Herbicides: Similar to the savings on fertilizers, farmers reported saving on herbicides for corn because of cover crops. Two-thirds of soybean producers said that they spent less on herbicides as a result of planting cover crops. Some 31.8% of spring wheat farmers and 70.6% of cotton growers reported that cover crops controlled weeds, reducing herbicide costs.
● Cover crop seed purchases: Although there are various species of cover crops, the median cost of cover crop seeds has fallen over the years.
Because of cover crops, farmers have been able to save money on fertilizers and herbicides, and cover crop seed expenses have decreased.
Cover Crops Prevail
Despite a rainy season and a pandemic, cover crops helped respondents either increase their yield or maintain their yields. It is evident that the survey shows farmers saved on cover crops, and they had healthier soils, among many other advantages. Perhaps in years to come, more farmers will utilize cover crops to harvest the many benefits that come with them.
About the author: Emily is a sustainability writer and avid gardener. You can read more of her work on her site, Conservation Folks, where she writes about helping tomorrow’s planet today.
