The USDA released its Census of Agriculture, and within that data, the results showed a jaw-dropping 67 percent increase in the use of cover crops by U.S. farmers from 2012 to 2017.

Across all U.S. states, farmers reported planting 15.4 million acres of cover crops in 2017 compared to 10.2 million acres in 2012.

Also of note: Iowa! #2 for number of cover crop acres planted and #1 for the greatest increase in cover crop planting in that 5-year span. Wow!