Cover crop survey highlights opportunities, challenges for specialty crop growers
Fruit, vegetable and other specialty crop growers represented nearly one-third of respondents to the 2026 National Cover Crop Survey, which documented how farmers are fitting cover crops around crop rotations, planting windows, weed management and other production demands.
The survey included 657 farmers from 46 states and Puerto Rico. Of 640 respondents who identified crops grown in 2025, 32.8% grew specialty crops, defined as vegetables, fruits, nuts or other non-commodity crops. Among 163 respondents who provided more detail on specialty crops, 46.6% said brassicas accounted for at least 10% of farm income, followed by cucurbits at 41.1% and root crops at 36.2%. Perennial fruits other than grapes were reported by 19%, and annual fruits such as strawberries and melons by 17.8%.
The report showed that cover crop management can differ for specialty operations. Among fruit, nut and vegetable growers using cover crops, 28.1% reported planting green, or planting a cash crop into a living cover crop. Growers reporting crops planted green included brassicas, cucurbits and other vegetables.
Timing remained a significant issue across production systems. Among all surveyed cover crop users, 42.4% cited conflicts with cash crop harvest or planting as a challenge, while 38.2% cited difficulty establishing a stand and 28% cited unfavorable economics. One market-garden respondent specifically identified the challenge of finding a planting window between cash and cover crops that provided maximum benefit.
Orchard management also influenced use. One respondent reported limiting cover crops in mature orchard blocks because insufficient sunlight reached the orchard floor.
The survey was conducted online March 12-April 4 by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). The researchers noted the respondent pool leaned toward Midwestern producers and farmers with a stronger-than-average emphasis on conservation practices.