Survey Tracks How Cover Crop Use Changes With Experience

Experienced users are more likely to incorporate cover crop mixes into their fields.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (RFD News) — The University of Missouri is taking a closer look at how growers are using cover crops.

In a recent survey of growers, researcher Dr. Robert Myers found that cover crop practices tend to change as producers gain more experience.

“We find the longer they’re using them, the more they start to gravitate towards mixes. It’s not that they’re only using mixes, but they’ll do more fields with mixes and they like the benefits they see from having those. We often find that first-time users of cover crops will tend to keep it simple. They’ll just start with one or maybe two species. Indeed, cereal rye is the most popular one. It’s used on about half of all cover crop acres, either by itself or with other species.”

Cover crops can be used across a number of fields, but Myers said their use in soybeans is much higher than in other crops.

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Knoxville native Neal Burnette-Irwin is a graduate from MTSU where he majored in Journalism and Entertainment Studies. He works as a digital content producer with RFD News and is represented by multiple talent agencies in Nashville and Chicago.


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