A nationwide survey of farmers on cover crop use is seeking insight from growers — even those who don't plant cover crops.

“This survey provides us with a great perspective on why farmers do or do not plant cover crops, what they expect to gain from the practice, and what their concerns are,” said Chad Watts, executive director at the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) in West Lafayette, Ind., which administers the survey. “Results from the survey help guide policy, research and education on cover crops. In recent years, data from cover crop surveys has been used in testimony on Capitol Hill, featured in the New York Times, and cited in academic journals. People are very eager to hear how farmers view cover crops.”

The survey can be taken online here until May 31, 2017. All answers to the survey are anonymous. The process for completing the survey is fairly simple and should take participants no more than 15 minutes, and even less depending on your crop rotations and diversity.

This is the fifth annual cover crop survey conducted by CTIC in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) with help from Penton Media.

Anyone interested in seeing results from the 2013, 2014, 2015 or 2016 crop year surveys and other related projects, click here. For more information, visit click here.