Cover Crop Survey Reports
The Conservation Technology Information Center [CTIC], in conjunction with the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education [SARE] organization and the American Seed Trade Association [ASTA], periodically conducts a national cover crops survey. In the past, this survey has queried only farmers about their attitudes toward cover crop use. Results from these surveys dating from 2012-2013 through 2022-2023 can be accessed here.
The most recent report is of results from a survey that was conducted in the fall of 2024. Results in this report are from queries of agricultural advisors–i.e. certified crop advisors [CCA*–largest category of respondents], crop scouts, etc.–regarding their sources of information and how they are influenced by their own experiences with cover crops. Click here for results from that survey. A brief summary of the results follow.
• The survey was developed and geared toward agricultural advisors that farmers rely on for insight into use of cover crops and other management practices.
• The goal of the survey is to help stakeholders provide advisors with the data and tools they need to advise their farmer clients about the benefits of using cover crops.
• The survey was conducted as a 41-question online instrument that was completed by 654 advisor- respondents from 47 U.S. states that included Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. The major portion of respondents were in the midwestern U.S. states and California.
• According to advisor-respondents, reducing soil erosion and improving soil health were major reasons for farmer client adoption of cover crops. Economic concerns related to lack of a measurable return and time and labor requirements were reasons for farmer clients stopping their use of cover crops.
• According to advisors, farmer clients receiving an incentive payment was a major reason for their recent adoption of cover crops use.
• One-on-one contact on the farm was the most common connection between advisors and farmer clients.
• The largest proportion of advisors learned about cover crops initially from on-the-job experience since most of the them who farm–about 70%–use cover crops themselves.
• More than half of the advisor-respondents expect the use of cover crops to increase in coming years.
• A major finding from the survey is that advisors are eager to learn more about how to make cover crops work for their farmer clients.
• Species selection, and establishment and termination of cover crops are the most important topics related to cover crops that advisors provide advice to farmers about.
*A CCA is certified by the American Society of Agronomy that has a rigorous program that includes a certification test and a schedule of continuing education requirements.
Advisors are very interested in cover crops and the benefits from their use, but their demand/need for more information on cover cropping and its benefits–both short- and long-term–is great. Thus, both public and private researchers need to continually conduct cover crops research that will help advisors and their farmer clients identify opportunities for success from using them.
Composed by Larry G. Heatherly, Apr. 2025, larryh91746@gmail.com