Farmers Expecting More Cover Crop Acres This Fall

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – In preparing for the most recent Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, farmers across the country were asked about the use of cover crops. The Barometer, based on survey responses from 400 U.S. agricultural producers from late September, found that nearly 40 percent of corn/soybean producers intend to plant at least some cover crops this fall. As for acreage intentions, over half (52 percent) plan to plant cover crops on one-third or less of their acreage, 21 percent intend to plant between one-third to as much as two-thirds, while the remainder (27 percent) intend to plant cover crops on more than 66 percent of their current cropland. For those planting cover crops this fall 79 percent do so to improve soil health and crop yields, while just 1 percent do so because of cost-share funds available for the practice.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)