Cover Crop Utilization Across Nebraska and Implications for Cropland Lease Arrangements in 2024

The Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey and Report 2023-2024 provides insight on recent trends in the market value of land and cash rental across the state. Each year, the special feature section covers topics on new or emerging issues related to the agricultural land industry in Nebraska. These topics reflect the interest expressed by panel members and readership of the Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Highlights Reports. The special feature section in 2024 focuses on trends and considerations for cover crops across Nebraska and implications on lease arrangements.Findings from the 2022 Census of Agriculture in Table 1 provide an overview of the utilization of cover crops across the state's eight districts and 93 counties. Approximately 925,686 acres of cover crops were grown on about 21 million cropland acres across Nebraska in 2022. Cover crops were planted on about 4.4% of cropland acres across the state by 4,477 operators.