Among findings in the latest National Cover Crop Survey is an increase in producers who integrate livestock into cover crop systems for grazing or feed.
Despite a challenging 2025 growing season and ongoing uncertainty in commodity markets, farmers continue to expand their use of cover crops, according to the 2026 National Cover Crop Survey Report.
The report, released Sept. 1, shows that cover crop acreage is steadily climbing. Farmers reported planting an average of 397.9 acres of cover crops in 2025, up from 377.5 acres the previous year. Acreage is projected to reach an average of 415.7 acres in 2026.
Among those surveyed, 68% reported planting cover crops in 2025, while 16.3% said they used cover crops some years. Another 7.9% were former users and 7.6% had never used the practice. Half of current users had at least 10 years of experience with cover crops.
“The National Cover Crop Report has become a benchmark in tracking not only the growing use of cover crops, but also the growing appreciation of their benefits and understanding of how farmers succeed with the practice,” said Rob Myers of the University of Missouri’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture, who has led the program since its inception. “Every time we conduct this survey, we gather new insights to share, and this year was no exception.”
The survey, conducted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the American Seed Trade Association, gathered responses from 657 farmers across 46 states and Puerto Rico. Respondents represented commodity crop, livestock and specialty crop operations.
Among those surveyed, yield benefits remained a key driver for cover crop adoption. Users reported an average yield increase of 3.5 bushels per acre in corn and 1.4 to 1.5 bushels per acre in soybeans. Weed suppression was another commonly cited benefit. Nearly one-third of users reported herbicide savings following cover crops, while 87% of growers who “planted green” into living cover crops said weed control improved.
Livestock integration emerged as another area of growth. One in three cover crop users reported grazing those fields or harvesting them for feed, and 77% of those respondents said grazing cover crops improved farm profitability. Use of drones in cover crops is also increasing. The survey found 16.3% of cover crop users employed drones for seeding or management in 2025.
Find the 2026 report and previous surveys at ctic.org/national-cover-crop-survey.