A landmark use of USDA farming data shows that cover crops and no-till practices can make a significant difference in whether growers can get their crops planted in wet years. The study also identified key gaps in USDA data.
University of Illinois researchers used data collected during 2019 to determine whether the conservation practices reduced prevent-plant insurance claims.
The use of cover crops and no-till significantly reduced the odds of prevent-plant claims. The conservation practices tend to be used more frequently on lower productivity fields, the same areas that are normally more likely to have insurance claims because the soil is less resilient.
The researchers say data on annual cover crop acreage is collected systematically in some counties, but only occasionally or not at all in others. The study recommends USDA find an efficient way to compile annual cover crop and no-till usage data on a field-by-field basis.
The study required marrying records from USDA’s Risk Management Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency.