By Blake Jackson
The Northeast Cover Crops Council (NECCC), in partnership with Precision Sustainable Agriculture (PSA), has developed an online Cover Crop Decision Support Tool to help farmers make informed decisions about cover crop options.
Designed specifically for the Northeastern United States, this user-friendly, web-based tool provides insights into cover crop species that align with a farmer’s unique goals and regional conditions.
Formed in 2016, the NECCC aims to increase the use of cover crops across the region while encouraging research, education, and collaboration among stakeholders. The Council’s board includes representatives from universities, agribusinesses, and farmers from states stretching from Maine to Maryland and Delaware.
The tool reflects years of expert collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the Northeast. In 2019 and 2020, over 70 teleconferences were held to evaluate and adapt cover crop data to the region’s plant hardiness zones and cropping systems.
Experts from Penn State, including Dr. Sjoerd Duiker, Dave Wilson, and Zach Larson, played key roles in this effort. The data set used was based on the Midwest Cover Crops Council’s original tool and enhanced using resources such as the USDA PLANTS database and a seeding rate calculator from the USDA.
The Cover Crop Decision Support Tool consists of two main components. First, a data explorer lets users browse information on 42 different cover crop and cash/cover crop species.
Farmers can apply filters to refine results based on traits like environmental adaptability, growth habits, seeding methods, and termination strategies.
Each species includes detailed planting and management guidance along with links to additional resources.
Second, the species selector feature allows users to choose up to three agronomic goals-such as erosion control, nitrogen fixation, or weed suppression and receive tailored species recommendations. A side-by-side comparison function makes it easy to evaluate multiple cover crops for suitability.
This tool is ideal for farmers interested in experimenting with new or different cover crops. Because the tool is grounded in expert-reviewed, region-specific information, it offers trustworthy guidance for planning fall cover crop strategies.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-eugenesergeev
Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops