July 1, 2020

Cover Crop Profitability

Utilizing cover crop treatments can have significant agronomic benefits for a farm. However, implementing this technology introduces additional costs. On this episode, Purdue agricultural economists Brady Brewer and Ph.D. student, Megan Hughes, evaluate the relationship between applied nitrogen and corn yield, and how this relationship is impacted by introducing three different species of cover crops: annual ryegrass, cereal rye, and an oat/radish blend.

The article referenced in this episode can be found at https://purdue.ag/covercropprofit.

TAGS:

cover crops

TEAM LINKS:

Brady Brewer

Megan Hughes

RELATED RESOURCES

Adoption of Conservation Practices and Farm Goals

July 29, 2025

How do farm goals shape conservation decisions? This analysis draws on a nationwide survey of 400 producers to explore how priorities like profitability, risk, and sustainability impact the adoption of practices like no-till, cover crops, and crop diversification. Farmers who rank conservation as a top goal are significantly more likely to implement these practices—offering a window into what drives long-term thinking in farm management.