Whether you are a longtime advocate of cover crops—or have never even considered using them—the Soil Health Partnership is encouraging all farmers to participate in the USDA’s 2017 Cover Crop Survey.
In its fifth year, the survey helps the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program understand why farmers choose to use cover crops, or the reasons that they don’t. The information will help guide cover crop research, policy and education nationwide.
“The experienced voices of all farmers are critical to the effectiveness of this survey,” said Nick Goeser, director of the Soil Health Partnership, and National Corn Growers Association director of soil health and sustainability. “We are encouraging our farmers enrolled in the Soil Health Partnership to participate in the survey, but all farmer views and experiences are relevant to USDA in understanding the real-life benefits and challenges of cover crops.”
An NCGA initiative, the Soil Health Partnership is in its fourth year, working to quantify the benefits of improved soil health practices from an economic standpoint, showing how healthy soil benefits the bottom line in addition to the environment. Cover crops are one of the practices the SHP measures and encourages.
What’s your cover crop story? Share it here! The SARE survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete, but ends in mid-May. SARE will issue a summary and report.
The Conservation Technology Information Center and the American Seed Trade Association are partners in the survey.
CommonGround
CommonGround is a group of farmers connecting with consumers through conversations about science and research and personal stories about food and misinformation surrounding farming. Supported by the NCGA and state corn organizations.
SHP
The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) is a farmer-led initiative that fosters transformation in agriculture through improved soil health. Administered by NCGA the partnership has more than 220 working farms enrolled in 16 states. SHP’s mission is to utilize science and data to partner with farmers who are adopting conservation agricultural practices that improve the economic and environmental sustainability of the farm.
CUTC
The Corn Utilization and Technology Conference (CUTC) is a biennial event happening this June. Learn more.
