Economic, agronomic and environmental benefits of Cover Crops for new and established users

Producers plant grasses, legumes, brassicas and/or small grains between regular primary crop production periods to gain multiple conservation and sustainability benefits, including the protection and improvement of soil and water quality and improvement of wildlife and pollinator Habitat. These Cover Crops offer many potential benefits to farming operations and the communities that surround them. Incorporating Cover Crops into farming systems incurs economic and management costs that may discourage some producers from adopting the conservation practice. Farmers must evaluate any practice for its contributions to the productivity, profitability and sustainability of their operations. This project will draw on data from a wide variety of Cover Crops planted in seven Midwest states Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, southern Minnesota and South Dakota and draw upon the insight of growers with a range of experience with cover crop management. The costs and benefits of Cover Crops will be assessed with proven tools, from mathematical models and cost/benefit assessments to nitrogen rate strip trials, documentation of pollinators in project fields, and extensive communications with participating producers on their choices and decision-making processes. At least 1,000 acres of Cover Crops will be planted on farms with no previous Cover Crops. Results and insight from the project will be shared throughout the Midwest via an annual workshop, detailed articles in leading farm magazines reaching more than 350,000 Midwest producers, and printed and online resources, including a Best Practices booklet and fact sheets.