Dan Miller says cover crops should be managed like any other facet of the farm.

“Managing a cover crop should be like managing a cash crop,” said Miller, who markets cover crop seeds in southwestern Iowa.

Miller considers cover crops to be an integral investment in a farming operation, similar to adding another planter, another combine, or even another employee.

The use of cover crops “is getting bigger as days go by,” he said, “but I really feel that it’s almost untapped.”

Miller, who also farms, adopted cover crops about four years ago because of concern over the loss of top soil from hilly ground. “We’re starting to notice that ground’s firming up every year” since he’s been planting cover crops. He also hopes that they’ll contribute to weed suppression.

“Cover crops may not be for every acre,” said Miller, “but they can be used on every acre.”