What it is
USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program developed this free interactive tool for selecting cover crops by region, soil type, climate zone, and management goals. Users input their location and objectives (nitrogen fixation, weed suppression, erosion control, pollinator habitat) to receive species recommendations with planting windows, seeding rates, and termination methods.
Why we picked this
Cover cropping is one of the highest-impact regenerative practices, with 198 paired comparisons showing a 7.3% increase in soil organic carbon in corn systems. But species selection determines success or failure. This tool eliminates guesswork by matching cover crop species to specific conditions, backed by decades of SARE research across diverse US agricultural regions.
Key takeaways
- Cover crops increase soil organic carbon by 7.3% in corn systems (198 paired comparisons) and sequester approximately 0.32 Mg C/ha/yr in the top 22 cm.
- Median cost of cover cropping is 37 USD/acre, with returns through reduced erosion, improved water infiltration, and decreased fertilizer needs typically exceeding costs within 2-3 years.
- The tool recommends species mixes (multi-species cocktails) that provide multiple benefits simultaneously, based on regional trial data.