Michigan Cover Crop Acreage Increases 54 Percent in Five Years

 

The adoption of cover crops as a sustainable practice continues to accelerate on farms in Michigan and around the U.S. according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Michigan ranks eighth in the nation with 673,205 cover crop acres in 2017, up 54 percent from 437,200 acres in 2012. Huron County led the way with 102,744 cover crop acres on 22.4 percent of county agricultural land. St. Joseph County followed with 58,319 cover crop acres on 27.5 percent of its agricultural land. Tuscola County with 47,947 acres (16.1 percent), Sanilac County with 43,186 acres (10.8 percent), Montcalm County with 29,979 (15.6 percent) and Bay County with 28,743 acres (14.6 percent) round out the top six counties by total cover crop acres. Keweenaw County leads on a percent basis with 64.3 percent, 54 acres of cover crops on 84 acres of agricultural land. The figure depicts the distribution of cover crops as a percent of agricultural land by county.

 

 

“The significant growth in cover crops acreage is contributing to rebuilding Michigan’s soil health and protecting its waters,” said Paul Gross, Michigan State University Extension educator. “Continuing and accelerating this growth will take coordinated efforts between farmers, researchers, educators, partner organizations and agencies.”

 

Several factors have contributed to this growth, including: