July 14, 2026

Hoosiers plant over a million acres of cover crops

Indiana Conservation Partnership survey results

By Erica Quinlan
Soybean plants sit under a cover crop of cereal rye at a farm near Fowler in northwest Indiana.

Soybean plants sit under a cover crop of cereal rye at a farm near Fowler in northwest Indiana. (AP photo/Joshua A. Bickel/AP)

INDIANAPOLIS — Hoosiers planted an estimated 1.58 million acres of cover crops, according to survey results from Indiana Conservation Partnership.

An estimated 1.79 million tons of sediment was prevented from entering Indiana’s waterways, which would fill about 17,000 train freight cars.

A farmer holds a piece of cereal rye used as a cover crop for soybeans, which helps maintain soil health and stores carbon during the fallow season.

A farmer holds a piece of cereal rye used as a cover crop for soybeans, which helps maintain soil health and stores carbon during the fallow season. (AP photo/Joshua A. Bickel/AP)

The survey also showed that 70% of row crop acres were not tilled and nearly 16% of row crops had reduced tillage on them over the winter.

Rows of soybean plants are seen under a cover crop of cereal rye at a farm near Fowler in northwest Indiana.

Rows of soybean plants are seen under a cover crop of cereal rye at a farm near Fowler in northwest Indiana. (AP photo/Joshua A. Bickel/AP)

“Cover cropping and reducing tillage have become important conservation tools for Hoosier farmers to help keep their soil healthy and thriving in the winter months,” said Don Lamb, Indiana State Department of Agriculture director and Boone County farmer.

Don Lamb

Lamb (ISDA photo/Stefan Welsh)

“I applaud our Division of Soil Conservation, along with partners in the Indiana Conservation Partnership, for their commitment to advancing the mission of conservation stewardship, and I encourage fellow farmers to implement these important practices.”

The Indiana Conservation Partnership announced the results of the conservation transect survey, which estimated Hoosier farmers planted 1.58 million acres of overwinter living covers.

The Indiana Conservation Partnership announced the results of the conservation transect survey, which estimated Hoosier farmers planted 1.58 million acres of overwinter living covers. (Provided graphic/ICP)

Visit tinyurl.com/ISDA-Conservation-Transect to view the full report and learn more about the survey.

ConservationCover CropsFarmlandIndiana State Department of AgricultureScienceSoil Health
Erica Quinlan

Erica Quinlan

Field Editor