The New York Soil Health team has released a new research brief exploring how cover crop incentive programs influence farmer behavior and cover crop adoption in the Northeast.
Why Incentives Matter
Cover crops are a proven tools for protecting and improving the soil, reducing erosion, and reducing fertilizer needs. However, it takes time, resources, and management to implement cover crops, and many farmers face barriers. Incentives can help farmers manage these challenges by lowering financial risks and supporting cover crop adoption. For these programs to be effective, they must be flexible and accessible, especially to farmers with limited resources.
The new policy brief, “Cover Crop Incentive Programs and Adoption Trends in the Northeast,” shares findings from a 2023 survey of farmers in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Maryland. The results make a strong case for expanding and improving these programs to meet environmental and equity goals.
What the Survey Revealed
Incentive programs are doing their job: Farmers who participated in them more than doubled their cover crop acreage, from 125 to 250 acres on average. Even after financial support ended, they maintained 37% more cover crop acreage than before enrolling.
But the benefits haven’t reached everyone equally. Participants were more likely to be men, operate larger conventional farms, and have over 30 years of farming experience. Barriers, such as complex applications and strict requirements, kept many farmers from enrolling, especially those managing smaller operations.
Research Brief Policy Recommendations
In the research brief, the team provides practical recommendations to improve program reach and effectiveness:
- Expand cover crop incentive programs to increase the acreage of cropland planted to cover crops, recognizing their effectiveness in promoting adoption.
- Leverage both continuous and shorter-term incentive programs to enhance cover crop adoption and long-term retention.
- Streamline application and documentation requirements to reduce farmer-perceived “transaction costs” and increase participation.
- Diversify incentive structure and recruitment strategies to expand participation among underrepresented farmer groups, including new and beginning farmers, women farmers, and farmers managing smaller acreages.
Planting cover crops balances economic considerations and land stewardship goals for many farmers. Well-designed incentive programs can support this process by making it easier to try new practices and evaluate what works best in different farming systems.
Read the full policy brief here.