Reimagining Cover Crops

Cover crops are recognized as an essential conservation practice for meeting the goals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS). Although farmers and landowners seem to be knowledgeable about the practice, implementation of new cover crop acres is stalling. The Reimagining Cover Crops study was designed to improve understanding of the motivations and concerns among farmers and landowners regarding cover crop implementation. Analysis of survey responses provides strong indications that interest in learning about cover crops remains strong, but moving beyond kicking the tires to on-farm adoption is hindered by skepticism rooted in concerns about complexity, cost, yield impact and uncertainty about long-term benefits.

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