The 2022-2023 National Cover Crop Survey Report was released today the challenges assumptions on the role of incentive payments in cover crop adoption.
According to the survey, nearly half of the cover crop users participating in the survey reported receiving some sort of payment for cover crops in 2022, and almost 78% of cover crop non-users said incentive payments would be helpful. However, over 90 percent of the farmers who were receiving cover crop incentives reported that they would definitely or probably continue planting cover crops after the payments ended, while only 3.3% said they definitely or probably would drop cover crops at the end of the incentive program. Overall, less than 16% of cover crop users said receiving incentive payments was one of their goals for cover cropping.
The 2022-2023 report marks the seventh National Cover Crop Survey, issued jointly by USDA-NIFA North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), based on insights from nearly 800 farmers in 49 states. The survey series started in 2012, and data from the surveys has been used in academic research, educational programs, policy planning and even testimony to Congress.
Listen below to a presentation on the report by:
Andrew LaVigne, CEO of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA)
Ryan Heiniger, Executive Director of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC)
Dr. Rob Myers, Lead researcher and National Liaison on Cover Crops and Soil Health for SARE
2022-2023 Cover Crop Survey (39:06)
Interview with ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne
Cover Crop Survey interview with Andy LaVigne, ASTA (6:12)