Every five years, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Census of Agriculture provides a comprehensive glimpse into the state of agriculture in the United States. Practices like cover crop plantings are becoming more extensively discussed and supported across the U.S. and in Michigan, but adoption of cover crops vary widely.
When it comes to cover crop use nationally, there was a 17% increase (about 3 million acres increase) from 2017 to 2022, representing about 6% of all harvested cropland across the U.S. In Michigan, there was about a 2% increase in acres planted to cover crops from 2017 to 2022. Meaning that in 2022, 9% of harvested cropland in Michigan was planted into cover crops. While these numbers seem small on the macro scale, there is a larger story to be told.
Among the 79 counties in Michigan for which data on cover crop use was available in both 2022 and 2017, 30 counties experienced an uptick in cover crop use while 49 counties observed a decline during the same period (Figure 2). Since ranges in the percent change of cover crop use in 2022 vary so drastically across the state, it can be difficult to say which factors directly influenced changes to cover crop adoption in Michigan, though some factors in cover crop use nationally (like changes in total cropland or weather challenges with planting) may be true for Michigan as well.
Cover crops have been shown to improve soil health, crop productivity and environmental stewardship. However, we also know the diversity of conditions in Michigan also brings a diversity of challenges with cover crops. Fortunately, several tools and management possibilities can help overcome these difficulties. Innovations in planting equipment can make it easier to plant in high residue situations. Advancements in the supply chain make a greater variety of seed for cover crop species more consistently available. Improved management strategies in cover crop termination are helping farmers get the most out of their cover crop without interfering with cash crop production. These innovations and more are making cover cropping work for each farm and farmer’s unique conditions.
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Photo Credit: gettyimages-mvburling
Categories: Michigan, Crops