The American Seed Trade Association says a recent survey found growers plan to add 10.5 million acres of cover crops planted in the next five years. ASTA said the increase is due to USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, which supports conservation practices for small and underserved producers.
“Cover crops are another example of the seed industry providing solutions for the modern producer. From farms big to small, cover crops provide economic and environmental benefits to farmers, while empowering them to be stewards of the land through its sustainable practice,” ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne said in a news release.
ASTA said its survey focused on cover crop acres through the lifespan of the USDA project and used numbers provided by project leads. The organization conducted this survey during the fourth quarter of 2023 and contacted participants in the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. ASTA focused on growers in the program that used the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Conservation Practice Standard No. 340 for cover crops.
ASTA said 31 project participants filled out surveys and 18 shared acreage estimates. The 18 projects that shared acreage estimates planned to add 10.5 million acres of cover crops during the three- or five-year project duration, according to the release. ASTA said this is likely a conservative number and may be significantly higher.
The organization said, of the 123 projects surveyed, growers indicated using or planning to use CPS No. 340 in 88 projects across 82 commodities. Federal funding for these projects is $2.39 billion, the release said.
ASTA said the benefits include slowing erosion, improving soil health, and controlling pests and diseases.
“ASTA continues to explore new methods, both private and public, to connect producers with quality cover crop seeds,” LaVigne said. “We encourage farmers and producers of all sizes to use our environment, conservation and cover crop seed dealer map to find a trusted cover crop source that will help them maximize their yield and care for their soil through the next planting season and beyond.”
