Independent research agronomist Jim Stute recently unveiled the results of a long-term study of the economic and weed suppression effects of cover crop adoption and management in southeast Wisconsin.

Funded by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), Stute’s study evaluated yield response and the net return-on-investment of cereal rye as a cover crop for both corn and soybean. 

The study found positive economic results when costs were managed appropriately, and that cover crops can be financially sound even for rented land, but that farmers’ timing when terminating their rye cover was critical for success. 

Speaking at the National No-Tillage Conference in January, Stute says the perception is cover crops are a long-term proposition and results won’t be seen for a couple of years after starting a program. They want data from farm fields rather than experiment stations. 

The East Troy, Wis., based educator hopes the study results will persuade farmers. “Our goal is an economic argument for adoption. We are trying to build the business case,” he says. 

Control What You Can

Stute’s group conducted 70 on-farm trials from 2022 through 2024 across his home region of southeast Wisconsin, which has highly erodible soils — at least half of it leased. Beyond it being…