Hoosier farmers planted about 1.6 million acres of overwinter living covers – cover crops and small grains, like wheat — this spring. Photo by Scott Olson, Getty Images.

By Madelyn Hanes
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS — Hoosier farmers planted about 1.6 million acres of overwinter living covers — cover crops and small grains, like wheat — this spring, elevating the state to the top in the nation in cover crop adoption, according to a survey by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.

The conservation survey, conducted between March and May, recorded 651,000 acres of corn and 916,000 acres of soybean covering the state.

Posey County led the state with about 87,000 acres under cover crops, followed by Gibson County with 70,000 acres and LaPorte County with 60,000 acres.

“Hoosier farmers are committed to preserving one of God’s most (precious) gifts — Earth,” Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith said in a press release. “Overwintering covers are just one tool that farmers use to preserve and enhance our farmland — ensuring they can pass down their property for generations. This is no easy task, and it can be costly. I applaud them for the extra effort.”

Farmers plant cover crops after the fall harvest to keep roots in the ground throughout the winter. They help build organic matter in the soil, improve overall soil health and reduce erosion. Some, such as legumes, also act as natural fertilizers. Cover crops have grown to cover more acreage in Indiana than any other commodity crop apart from corn and soybeans.

Estimated of living green cover are produced by Indian Conservation Transect, a windshield survey of agricultural fields across the state of indiana, which is conducted annually by the Indiana Conservation partnership every late winter / early spring. For more information about the conservation transect, go here.

The survey estimates that cover crops helped prevent 1.8 million tons of sediment from entering Indiana’s waterways — enough to fill about 18,000 train freight cars. According to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, constructing roads, buildings and the moving earth can cause sediment to enter waterways — making sediment the number one water quality pollutant in Indiana.

The survey also revealed that 70% of row crop acres were untilled — a method where crops are planted directly in residue of the previous crop. Additionally 18% had used reduced tillage over winter following the 2024 harvest.

Last year, Hoosier farmers broke the conservation record, planting 1.7 million acres under living cover.

The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, who assisted in conducting the survey, was among the many hit by federal funding freezes. The federal funding freezes left the Allen County district in turmoil — hurting operations and terminating an employee.