The state of the cover crop nation and how to set realistic future goals for the popular conservation practice

Abstract

C over cropping is a conservation practice that has captured the enthusiasm of farmers and conservation professionals alike over the past decade. The practice, planting crops primarily “to manage soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, or wildlife,” (USDA NASS 2012) has grown in popularity over the last 10 years to a level not seen since the advent of widespread adoption of synthetic fertilizers following WWII (Craven 1926; White 2015; Magdoff and Van Es 2009). Many federal agencies and farming and environmental stewardship groups have ambitious targets for increased adoption of the practice. In 2012, the National Wildlife Federation called for cover cropping 4 million (12%) of the 33.6 million ha (10 million of 83 million ac) of cropland in the Mississippi River Basin by 2015 and 40 million cover cropped ha (100 million ac) nationwide by 2025 (Bryant et al. 2013). In 2014, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service called for a doubling of cover cropped land from 4 to 8 million ha (10 to 20 million ac) by 2020 at the National Conference for Cover Crops and Soil Health in Omaha, Nebraska (SARE 2014). These cover crop goals are stated in the format of land area in a…