2026 National Cover Crop Report Shows Continued Expansion of Cover Crop Use

Farmers with 10+ years of experience help provide insights into incentive program design, monetization, and management practices that drive returns on investment.

Results of the 2026 National Cover Crop Report  released Sept. 1 at the Farm Progress Show indicate strong interest in cover crops among many farmers who produce a wide range of crops and livestock. Among respondents to the survey, the average acreage planted with cover crops was 397.9, and their projections anticipate crossing the 400-acre mark by next year. Almost half of the cover crop users in the survey had 10+ years of experience with cover crops.

The 2026 survey was conducted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, and American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and is the ninth National Cover Crop Report published by CTIC and SARE since 2013.