The Cover Crop Decision Support Tools, developed by Precision Sustainable Agriculture (PSA), provide site-specific management recommendations and information on cover crops' species, seeding, economics, and nitrogen impacts.

PSA is a collaboration of farmers, scientists, engineers, educators, commodity group members, government agents, and private industry leaders. Their efforts focus on creating resources and services that support productive, profitable, sustainable farming systems across the United States.

These free online tools can be a valuable resource for growers developing a cover crop management strategy that fits their farm's location, rotation, and goals.

Please note that these tools are still under development and may experience changes as PSA enhances their functionality. Work is also being done to collect and enter the appropriate data for states currently not listed on the tool. Growers in these states should periodically check to see when their state is operational on the Decision Support Tools.

Decision Support Tools

Cover Crop Species Selector

Enter your site conditions, cover cropping goals, cash crop growing window, and more to receive detailed recommendations from the Cover Crop Species Selector.

This tool contains a collection of detailed images and descriptions of anywhere from 25 to 45 species per U.S. region. 

Cover Crop Nitrogen Calculator

The Cover Crop Nitrogen Calculator shows how much your cover crop will release and how much your cash crop will uptake over time. Enter your field’s geometry, soil properties, cash and cover crops, and more.

The calculator draws on satellite imagery, soil and weather data, and Precision Sustainable Agriculture field trial data to give you tailored information on cover crop residue persistence, as well as the amount and timing of nitrogen availability.

Cover Crop Economic Decision Support Tool

A team of economists created the Cover Crop Economic Decision Support Tool to show how cover cropping may impact yield and revenue. Based on your field location, the tool automatically populates default values for labor, diesel, tractor operation, and other costs, which you may edit.

When you indicate your cover crop species, seedbed preparation, planting and termination methods, and other factors, the tool generates percent changes in crop production over three years, as well as changes in yield and net income.

Cover Crop Seeding Rate Calculator

Once you’ve entered your cover crop species, planting location and date, acreage, and other factors, the Cover Crop Seeding Rate Calculator recommends rates based on averages determined by your regional Cover Crop Council.

To see how more specific factors affect the rates, enter your seeding method, seed mix ratio, and goals such as erosion control, grazing, cost savings, or weed suppression.