Cover crops, often touted as a critical component of sustainable farming, are grown when a field is conventionally left fallow between cash crops. Cover crops are not planted for harvesting. Instead, the primary goal is to generate several benefits through enhanced ground cover, additional plant growth, and increased organic matter entering the soil.
Current Adoption
Increased awareness of the benefits of cover crops has led to improved adoption. The 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture estimates that cover crops were planted on 4.7% of all cropland acres in the United States. North Carolina is well above the national average, with around 9.5% of cropland acres using cover crops.Cover Crop Types
Grasses, legumes, brassicas, and broadleaf non-legumes are all types of cover crops with several species, and each has its strengths and weaknesses. Popular cover crops grown include Cereal Rye, Crimson Clover, Winter Triticale, Hairy Vetch, and Radish.References
- Bryant, L. (2022). 2022 Census of Agriculture Data on Cover Crops. https://www.nrdc.org/bio/lara-bryant/2022-census-agriculture-data-cover-crops#
- Clark, A. (2015). Cover Crops for Sustainable Crop Rotations. https://www.sare.org/resources/cover-crops/
- USDA (n. d.). Cover Crops and Crop Rotation. https://www.usda.gov/peoples-garden/soil-health/cover-crops-crop-rotation
- USDA (2022). Farms and Land in Farms 2021Summary. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Todays_Reports/reports/fnlo0222.pdf
