Survey of Cover Crop Use on New York Dairy Farms

Abstract

Many dairy farmers include cover crops in their crop rotations. Cover crops help to reduce erosion and nitrate leaching loss, increase soil organic matter, and supply nitrogen (N) for crops that follow. In this study, New York dairy farmers were surveyed to determine current cover cropping practices, identify reasons for using or not (or no longer) using cover crops, and to determine cover crop research needs.