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Diakon .radishes .(Photo: .Edwin .Remsberg/SARE)
In a 2019-2020 survey conducted by SARE, the Approximately 29% said it took two to three
Conservation Technology Information Center years to see soil benefits; 10% said it took four to
and the American Seed Trade Association, 58% five years. For another 2.5%, it took more than
of 746 responding producers said they began five years. A little more than 23% of producers
seeing soil benefits to their farm in less than two said they saw their net profits increase 2% to 4%
years of planting cover crops. Additionally, 35% following their use of cover crops.
of producers reported a net profit increase of About 16% of the farmers surveyed, or 125
5% or more after planting them.
growers, hadn’t found any soil benefits from
growing cover crops. However, 74 of
these producers had three years or
less of experience with cover crops.
About 3% said cover crops had actu-
ally cut their net income.
Another farmer who’s seen eco-
nomic and agronomic benefits
within a few years is Matt Ulmer,
who grows corn, soybeans and small
grains on about 500 acres in central
Pennsylvania. He started planting
cereal rye as cover 12 years ago
when he began farming. He was
focused on preventing soil erosion
and building overall soil health
and resiliency to better cope with
extreme weather events.
www.Agri-Pulse.com 17
