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Higher diesel, seed prices may temper cover crop interest

An extension educator suspects rising input costs could slow cover crop adoption.

Dave Nicolai with the University of Minnesota says there’s a lot of interest in using covers in the Upper Midwest.

“Although I think it will be tempered a little bit by economics, in terms of everything from the price of diesel fuel to the cost of seed.”

He tells Brownfield state and federal funds could help offset those costs.

“Where they can get some other payments or incentivized with conservation programs (or other) government (programs) that may mediate some of that.”

Nicolai says another thing slowing down cover crops this spring has been cool weather.