INDIANA — A new nationwide report reveals expanding acreage and strong long-term commitment among farmers utilizing cover crops to enhance soil health and operational resilience.
The findings from the 2026 National Cover Crop Report were officially released on Sept. 1 at the Farm Progress Show. Compiled by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) in partnership with Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), the initiative delivers the country’s most comprehensive dataset on cover crop trends, management sentiments, and advisor insights.
Cover crops provide a wide array of agronomic and environmental advantages, ranging from erosion control and soil building to capturing key nutrients and holding them in the root zone throughout the winter. As agricultural interest in soil stewardship continues to climb, insights from both experienced producers and non-users offer critical guidance for fellow farmers, crop advisors, conservation specialists, and policymakers.
Acreage Gains and Experienced Adopters
The survey gathered responses online from 657 farmers spanning 46 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, representing a broad mix of crop and livestock producers.
Key metrics from the 2026 findings include:
- Expanding Scale: Participating farmers reported planting an average of 397.9 acres in cover crops, with projections anticipating that figure will cross the 400-acre threshold by next year.
- Deep Experience: Nearly half of the cover crop users surveyed reported having 10 or more years of hands-on experience integrating the practice into their operations.
- Adaptive Management: To better reflect real-world farm decision-making, the report categorized farmers who previously used the practice as “intermittent users” rather than “former users.”
“Farmers who used cover crops in the past were grouped as ‘intermittent users’ instead of ‘former users’ to acknowledge the role that cover crops play in adaptive management systems,” said Ryan Heiniger, CTIC executive director and an Iowa farmer.
Re-engagement potential among these intermittent users remains high. According to the data, 28.6% stated they were definitely or probably open to using cover crops again, while an additional 34.7% indicated they might consider bringing the practice back into their rotations.
See the full report HERE.
Report Access and Upcoming Webinar
Agricultural professionals and producers interested in analyzing the complete survey dataset can access the full report online through the official CTIC web portal.
To help break down the findings, CTIC will host an informational webinar on Thursday, September 24. Registration for the live event is currently open to the public through the organization’s site. Register HERE.
