Determining the profitability of your cover crop may not be as crystal clear as calculating your net profits. Some benefits start small and increase each year the practice is continued. Cover crops offer benefits across farm management, so consider the following improvements outlined by Dr. Rob Myers in How to Measure Cover Crop Success when evaluating the success of your cover crop:
Cover Crop Costs & Benefits Calculators
There are several tools available to help determine and calculate cover crop costs and profitability. Each calculator is designed as a downloadable and fillable Microsoft Excel document that will help you calculate the profitability of different cover crops for your practice. The economics simulator is a web-based tool that comes with a detailed user guide.
Iowa Learning Farms created the Cover Crop Cost and Cover Crop Seeding Rate Calculators, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach created the Economics of Cover Crops Costs & Benefits tool, and Iowa Soybean Association created the Cover Crop Economic Simulator.
The Iowa Agriculture Alliance’s Iowa Cost Share Comparison page outlines helpful Cover Crop cost share program information for farmers to easily access. Their charts compare the services each program has to offer. Visit their webpage to download the charts to use their clickable weblinks to navigate the information with a breeze.
Shared here is IAWA’s chart showing which incentives stack.
IAWA also provides an Interactive Cost Share Comparison tool that allows producers to add and compare how different incentive stack and to help producers decide which Cost Share Programs to enroll in to get the maximum benefits for their practice.
Cover Crops will pay for themselves best when being used to meet multiple needs.
From the SARE Technical Bulletin, some ways to gain more profitability out of Cover Crops include:
While the District can help you apply for State cost share funds, there are opportunities for stackable funding through other privately organized cost share programs.
Some private cost share opportunities we are aware of include but are not limited to:
There are Federal Funding opportunities also available for cover crops that may not be stackable with State Cost Share, but may be an attractive alternative:
Provided by Iowa Learning Farms, the Economic Value of Cover Crops Report shares a study estimating the value of retained nutrients and land value from the use of cover crops. See the full report or download the infographic using the following link: Learn More!
Provided by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), the Managing Cover Crops Profitability 3rd Edition book (2007) explores how and why cover crops work and provides information to build cover crops into any farming operation. This title is available for free as a PDF, Epub, or Mobi on their website. Print copies can also be purchased. See the full book using the following link: Learn More!
Provided by the Penn State Extension Office, the Economics of Cover Crops article dives into six major economic benefits Cover Crops provide to different farm practices. See the full article using the following link: Learn More!
Provided by Practical Farmers of Iowa, this article highlights economic advantages and profitability gains that can be made by grazing livestock on Cover Crops. See what economic benefits farmer Ben Albright reaped by sowing a test field adjacent to his feedlot using the following link: Learn More!
Provided by ISU Extension and Outreach, the How do Cover Crops Affect Whole Farm Profitability PowerPoint Presentation provides an overview of a profitability study that included over 50 farmer’s experiences. See detailed explanations of profitability information using the following link: Learn More!
Provided by the ISU Department of Economics, this article evaluates the change in net returns from implementing Cover Crops into corn and soy beans. See the details using the following link: Learn More!
Provided by Cambridge University Press, this study calculates the annual net returns to Cover Crop use for farmers in the Midwest. This publication can be downloaded for free on their website, see the full study using the following link: Learn More!
The Effects of Cover Crops on early Corn growth: A Polk SWCD Cover Crop Demonstration Project Background Polk Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) manages a ‘farming Demonstration Project’ north
April 23, 2014 | Bob Hartzler By Bob Hartzler, Department of Agronomy. Published by Integrated Crop Management News and the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Planting cereal rye as
For new adopters, it is best to start simply. Cover crops are non-cash crops planted between growing seasons to improve and protect your soil. They offer a low-risk way to
With spring planting on the horizon, it is time to look at our fall cover crops and see how well they performed. Here at the Polk Soil and Water Conservation
As spring approaches, cover crops across Central Iowa are waking up—and so is interest in their role in healthy, sustainable farming. Last August the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District
As spring planting gets underway across Iowa, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how last fall’s cover crops performed—especially in the Polk SWCD Cover Crop Demonstration Plot. One clear standout? Oats.
Overwinter cover crops provide a wide range of benefits to soil health, water quality, and overall farm sustainability. Here’s a breakdown of the key benefits: 1. Improve Soil Health •
Field Update This December, Polk SWCD staff visited the cover crop demonstration plot to report on current condition of the cover crops. To provide some context, the field was split
A Report from Polk Soil and Water Conservation District As the planting season begins on the fields of Polk County, Iowa, the farmers have been reflecting on their fall Cover
When it comes to growing cover crops in Central Iowa, triticale has benefits for soil health and forage. This hybrid of wheat and rye offers a powerful combination of high
Peer group farmers are a valuable resource for anyone looking to start conservation projects or adopt regenerative farming practices. These experienced farmers have already implemented various conservation strategies on their own farms and can offer practical insights, advice, and support. By joining a peer group, you gain access to a network of individuals who understand the challenges and rewards of sustainable farming. They can provide guidance on best practices, share lessons learned, and even offer hands-on assistance. Engaging with peer group farmers can significantly ease the transition to new farming methods, helping you to avoid common pitfalls and achieve success more quickly. Their collective experience and willingness to share knowledge make them an indispensable part of the farming community.
Shaun knows about cover crops and leveraging them for livestock forage. He is a great resource if you have livestock, or are wanting to market cover crops as a forage for livestock.
Mike has some great cover crop experience and sticks by no-till. If you share some of his resource concerns or are looking to dip your toes into cover cropping, reach out!
Are you planting rye as a cover crop? Wanting to go deeper down the rabbit hole of cover crops? Craig is knowledgeable about using different cover crops, and using them as fodder for livestock.
Ryan is your guy if you’ve got questions about using cover crops for weed control. He knows all about cover crops and no-till, and can give advice on increasing water holding capacity in your field
Randy knows all about navigating cost-share programs, as well as using multi-species mixes when cover cropping. Get in touch with him if you’re just starting out or are wanting to get in deeper.
Are you concerned about the amount of organic matter in your soil? Aaron uses no-till and cover crops to increase his organic matter content. If you’re wanting tips on organic farming, or organic matter, call Aaron up!
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