Indiana farmers set cover crop record

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana farmers planted nearly 1.6 million acres of cover crops last year — the largest amount recorded by an Indiana Conservation Partnership survey.

Of those, 915,000 acres were planted after soybean harvest and 616,000 acres were planted after corn.

Overwintering cover crops boost soil organic matter and improve water infiltration into the soil.

As a result of the cover crops planted last year, an estimated 1.6 million tons of sediment was prevented from entering Indiana’s waterways. That’s enough sediment to fill more than 453 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Overwintering covers also prevented 4.1 million pounds of nitrogen and over 2 million pounds of phosphorus from entering Indiana’s waterways.

The Midwest Cover Crops Council created a strategic plan for 2021 through 2024.

Goal 1: Educate a diverse network of stakeholders about the management and benefits of cover crops.

Goal 2: Expand the network of advocates who support and promote cover crops as a best management practice.

Goal 3: Facilitate networking and collaboration for research across states, sharing data to strengthen education and/or change policy.

11 Benefits Of Cover Crops

1. Enhance biodiversity.

2. Increase soil infiltration, leading to less flooding, leaching and runoff.

3. Create wildlife habitat.

4. Attract honeybees and beneficial insects.

5. Reduce erosion.

6. Improve soil quality.

7. Increase soil organic matter.

8. Improve water holding capacity.

9. Add beneficial microbes.

10. Combat weeds.

11. Break disease cycles.

Learn more at mccc.msu.edu/.