Cover crops have ebbs, flows

Michael Langemeier, James Mintert and Joana Colussi Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture
Dec 8, 2025
Dec 8, 2025

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A mix of plants grows as a cover crop on a rotational pig pasture. The mix of plants helps make the farm less dependent on corn and soy.

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Michael Langemeier, James Mintert and Joana Colussi Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture

When thinking about the adoption of conservation practices, like cover crops, it's important to note two things. First, adoption rates have ebbs and flows; in other words, adoption does not necessarily follow a steady trend. Second, sometimes conservation practices are disadopted, which may happen due to the termination of incentive payments and/or lack of profitability. Researchers have examined trends in the adoption of cover crops, cover crop experience and percentage of acres planted to cover crops using data from the September Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer surveys for the past five years.

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Michael Langemeier and James Mintert are agricultural economists with Purdue University. Joana Colussi is an assistant professor in the Purdue University-Department of Agricultural Economics. Visit ag.purdue.edu for more information.