From September 2021 through September 2025, between 52% and 57% of respondents to Purdue University’s Ag Economy Barometer surveys said they currently planted cover crops somewhere on their operation. In September 2025, current users said they planted cover crops on an average of 42% of their farm acreage. Those figures describe different things: whether a respondent uses cover crops at all, and how much land current users say they cover.
What the five September surveys measured
Purdue University Center for Commercial Agriculture analyzed cover-crop responses in the September editions of its monthly Ag Economy Barometer from 2021 through 2025. The Barometer gauges U.S. agricultural producer sentiment, and its cover-crop questions are asked periodically. The 2025 article is by Michael Langemeier, James Mintert, and Joana Colussi.
The adoption question was, “Have you ever planted a cover crop on your operation?” Respondents could answer “Yes, currently,” “Yes, in the past,” or “No.” The results are shares of survey respondents, not a direct count of U.S. farms or cropland. Purdue’s account of the five-year results describes current-use shares ranging from 52% to 57% in the five September surveys.
September 2025 adoption responses
| Response | Share of Barometer respondents |
|---|---|
| Currently plants cover crops | 53% |
| Planted in the past, but not currently | 21% |
| Never planted cover crops | 26% |
The 53% current-use result means respondents reported planting cover crops somewhere on their operation. It does not mean they planted every field or most of their acres.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
![No-Till Cover Crop 13-Seed Mix (1 lb. Bag): [50% Clovers Plus Fenugreek, Vetch, Flax, Cowpeas, Buckwheat, Forage Peas, Millet, Lentils, Crimson Clover, Sweet Yellow, White Clover, Medium Red Clover]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61tz3UL4ZfL._SL160_.jpg)
- 13 different varieties of THE most popular cover crops in the community in 1 bag = balanced bio-diversity
- Inoculated with Rhizobium; Encourages Beneficial Mycorrhizal Fungi populations to thrive, which literally help deliver nutrients to the roots of the plants
- Bio-diverse array of cover crop varieties attracts wide variety of beneficial organisms & predators which contribute to soil fertility and humus quality
- Perfect for Raised Beds and/or No-Till Container Gardening
- High-Quality, Nitro-Coated, All-Natural Non-GMO Seed Mix, From USA only
How much acreage current users reported covering
Only respondents who currently planted cover crops were asked, “Annually, on what proportion (percentage) of your farm did you plant cover crops?” In September 2025, current users reported an average of 42% of their farm acreage. Purdue also reports that 57% of current users said they planted cover crops on 26%–50% of their acreage. These are survey responses, not an independently measured acreage inventory.
For comparison, in 2021, 25% of current users said they planted cover crops on more than one-fourth of their acreage. The 2021 and 2025 figures describe the share of current users in a response category; they should not be read as a direct inventory of all planted acres.
What the approximately 22% figure means
Purdue estimates an acreage share for the full respondent sample by multiplying September 2025’s current-use share by current users’ average acreage share: 0.53 × 0.42 ≈ 0.22, or approximately 22%. This is a derived estimate based on survey responses. It is not a direct measurement that 22% of U.S. cropland had cover crops.
Rank #2
- 1 JUG (5 LBS.) = 3,000–3,750 SQ FT - Comes in a handy resealable container
- IMPROVES SOIL HEALTH & FERTILITY: Helps fix nitrogen, add organic matter, and improve soil structure for better growing conditions season after season
- FAST GROWING COVER FOR SPRING & FALL: Establishes quickly to protect bare soil, suppress weeds, and improve soil between planting seasons
- NATURAL NITROGEN FIXATION: Winter peas and hairy vetch work together to naturally add nitrogen back into the soil, reducing fertilizer needs
- WEED SUPPRESSION & SOIL PROTECTION: Dense growth shades out weeds and helps reduce erosion while keeping your soil covered
The distinction matters because the two inputs have different denominators: 53% is the share of all respondents who currently used cover crops, while 42% is the average reported acreage share among current users. The resulting estimate combines those answers; it does not convert them into a census of land.
Why the Barometer estimate differs from the Census comparison
Purdue reports that cover crops were planted on 4.7% of total U.S. cropland in 2022, attributing that figure to the USDA Economic Research Service’s summary of the 2022 Census of Agriculture. The Barometer figure and the Census figure are not directly comparable: they come from different sources, cover different populations, and measure adoption differently. Purdue notes that the Barometer surveys focus on full-time farms.
The 4.7% figure is attributed to USDA ERS as reported by Purdue; Purdue’s article does not make it equivalent to the Barometer’s respondent-based estimate. Treat the two numbers as different indicators, not as proof that one source confirms or disproves the other.
Rank #3
- Cover Crop - Nine large individual packets of Annual Buckwheat, Crimson Clover, Dutch White Clover, Hairy Vetch, Yellow Mustard, Winter Oats, Austrian Winter Pea, Daikon Driller Radish and Winter Rye seeds with instructions to grow. Seed varieties that are great for improving soil, preventing erosion, and suppressing weeds.
- Soil Health - Winter-hardy and drought-tolerant cover crops that work well on sandy or clay soils.
- For the Home Gardener - We've included enough seed in one packet to cover an 8' x 4' garden bed. Improving soil health through cover crop planting is an easy and low cost way of maintaining your garden from year to year.
- Easy to Grow - Instructions included on each packet. Plus, we are available to answer all your questions. If these seeds don’t germinate, we will happily make it right for you.
- Safe and Sustainable - Our operation is fully solar powered, and Sow Right Seeds has taken the Safe Seed Pledge to sell only fresh Non-GMO heirloom seeds for you and your family.
Findings reported for Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana
Purdue also cites a 2024 analysis of Census data by Plastina, Sawadgo, and Okonkwo. It reports that cover crops were planted on 5.1% of cropland across Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana in 2022, 0.9 percentage points above 2017. The reported increase from 2012 to 2017 was 3.0 percentage points. Between 2017 and 2022, adoption declined in 94 of the 291 counties with data, or 32%. These are findings attributed to that analysis, not calculations from the Barometer responses.
Experience among current users
In September 2025, current users reported an average of 10.5 years of cover-crop experience. Purdue says 72% had planted cover crops for 10 years or less; its summary describes roughly 40% as having five years or less and about 9% as having more than 20 years. The figures indicate that users included both newer and long-time practitioners, but do not establish why they adopted or continued the practice.
What respondents said about motivations and results
In September 2024, approximately one-third of respondents selected improved soil health and approximately one-third selected improved erosion control as motivations for planting cover crops. Other listed answers included improved water quality, carbon sequestration, and “other.” Among current users asked which statement best described their experience, 75% selected “Improves soil health and crop yields.”
Rank #4
- VERSATILE & NUTRIENT-RICH COVER CROP Seed MIX: Our Gardenway cover crop seeds include a diverse blend of triticale, pea seeds, oats, hairy vetch seed, annual rye grass seed, crimson clover seeds. These nutrient-rich seeds enhance soil health and fertility, making them ideal for various gardening applications such as vegetable gardens, flower beds, and home lawns.
- EASY TO GROW & LOW MAINTENANCE: Our gardenway cover crop seeds are easy to plant and cultivate, suitable for gardeners of all skill levels. Their resilient nature ensures successful growth even in challenging conditions. These low-maintenance seeds reduce the need for intensive care, making gardening easier and more enjoyable.
- IMPROVES SOIL HEALTH & WATER RETENTION: Our cover crop seeds enhance soil health by fixing nitrogen, and improving soil structure. This leads to healthier, more fertile soil that supports robust plant growth. Additionally, they improve soil water retention, reducing the need for frequent watering and maintaining moisture levels during dry periods.
- PREVENTS SOIL EROSION & CONTROLS UNWANTED VEGETATION: Our mixed plants seeds provide effective ground cover that prevents soil erosion by protecting the soil surface from wind and water erosion. They also control unwanted vegetation by creating a dense cover, reducing the need for herbicides and manual weeding, thus promoting an efficient and greener gardening approach.
- ATTRACTS POLLINATORS & ENHANCES GARDEN BIODIVERSITY: Our cover crop mixed seeds includes flowering plants that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, enriching biodiversity and improving pollination for other plants in your garden. These seeds naturally improve soil health, reduce the need for chemical inputs, and support better gardening practices, promoting a thriving garden environment.
These are reported motivations and perceptions, not controlled estimates of the effect of cover crops on yields, soil health, or profitability. The 2024 question asked about reasons for planting; it was not a comprehensive survey of why non-users avoid cover crops or why former users stop.
What the survey can—and cannot—tell farmers
- Adoption was steady within a range: current-use responses stayed between 52% and 57% across the five September survey years.
- Use on an operation is not whole-farm coverage: the adoption question asks whether cover crops are currently planted at all; the acreage question separately asks current users how much of their farm they cover.
- The full-sample 22% estimate is derived: it multiplies respondent adoption by reported acreage intensity and is not a direct national cropland measurement.
- Experience and motivation are self-reported: positive views among users do not prove a causal yield benefit or guarantee that cover crops will be profitable for a particular farm.
Purdue notes that lack of profitability and concern about hurting crop yields are often cited as reasons not to adopt or to stop planting cover crops. Its article does not quantify how much either factor drives non-adoption. The survey results therefore help describe what participating producers report, but do not replace farm-specific agronomic or financial evaluation.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
