2020 Journal of the ASFMRA Article
Motivations and Challenges of Cover Crop Utilization
A recent study published in the 2020 Journal of the ASFMRA recently explored the multifaceted benefits of utilizing cover crops in cotton and peanut production systems in Georgia agriculture. Along with identifying the benefits of adopting this conservation practice, this study also examined both the costs and incentives associated with cover crop adoption.
The findings of this study indicated that farmers’ initial motivation for planting cover crops was to prevent soil erosion. However, focus group participants indicated that after planting cover crops for a number of years, they began to realize additional benefits from the practice that they had not originally intended.
Adopting this practice did lead to some additional farm costs, such as the need to purchase new equipment and for additional farm management time. However, the overall determination of this study was that, in many circumstances, the utilization of cover crops could be advantageous in a farming operation.
The full submission, entitled “Motivations and Challenges of Cover Crop Utilization for Georgia Crop Production,” may be found in the 2020 Journal of the ASFMRA. The Journal includes an additional 18 articles on topics as wide ranging as:
- Storage of corn and soybeans
- Potential for genomics and impact on ranch profitability
- Farmland investment
- Impact of weather fluctuations and quality effects on land price trends
- Pricing on seed corn and nitrogen fertilizer
- Much more
If you are interested in having an article published, please review the Manuscript Guidelines. Manuscripts may be submitted to the ASFMRA at publications@asfmra.org.
PICTURED: Reported Cost Changes Associated with Cover Crop Use