Pioneering Farmers Value Agronomic Performance of Cover Crops and Their Impacts on Soil and Environment

Cover crops (CCs) have aroused a great deal of interest as multifunctional measure to improve the sustainability agriculture. Understanding farmers’ views are important for future farm-scale implementation. A farmer survey was carried out in Finland 2021 with aims gather on agronomic performance CCs, their environmental impacts and contribution climate smart agriculture, understand how CCs differed depending farm/farmer characteristics. The sample conventional organic farms that had selected registered 2020. 6493 farmers were invited answer questionnaire 18 statements (a Likert scale, 5 choices), 1130 responded (17.4%). Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel test used strength association between ten characteristics respondents statements. Farmers considered wide-ranging benefits soil conditions. Only 21% agreed increase need nitrogen fertilizer use. 49% reduce weed problems. mostly (ca. 80%) nutrient leaching erosion. They general more uncertain about CCs’ change mitigation (53% agreed), adaptation (51%), resilience (58%). In agri-environmental schemes subsidies use should aim large-scale implementation two target groups: younger (?50 years) they slightly skeptical than older ones less diverse land doubtful provided by CCs.