Wisconsin’s data for the Midwest Cover Crops Council cover crop decision tool has been updated to include 16 new cover crop species, seeding dates that are accurate to county-level climate data, and refreshed ratings on each species’ ability to fulfill 13 different cover crop goals.
Visit the new decision tool today!
A Team Effort
The Midwest Cover Crops Council’s (MCCC) cover crop decision tool for Wisconsin underwent a comprehensive update in the spring of 2026. The updated tool is the result of a collaborative effort between researchers, Extension, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service personnel, seed dealers, agronomists, and farmers from Wisconsin working alongside MCCC staff. The updated decision tool reflects the latest research findings and practical experience gained across the state since the tool’s last major update in 2018. A huge thank you to all the committee members that made the update possible!
Climate-Driven Seeding Date Adjustments
Recommended seeding dates for each cover crop species were adjusted using the most recent 30-year climate normals from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and further refined based on practical experience across the state. Rather than relying on broad statewide or regional averages, seeding dates and planting windows are now specific to each individual county based on local climate data and frost dates.
Updated Species Ratings for Cover Crop Goals
Each cover crop species was reviewed and updated to give farmers more accurate expectations when it comes to potential advantages, disadvantages, and how well a species typically fulfills a specific cover crop goal.
- Cover Crop Goals: Each species was reevaluated on how effectively it fulfills various goals, such as reducing erosion, managing weeds, or providing quality grazing for livestock. This recent update added two new goals: early interseeding (pre-canopy) and winter survivability. Tool users can now filter cover crop species across 13 different goals.
- Comprehensive Information Sheet Reviews: Each cover crop species features an associated information sheet outlining detailed planting, termination, and cultural trait information. They also include lists and ratings for potential advantages and disadvantages. Potential advantages including soil impacts and attractiveness to beneficial insects were reviewed alongside potential disadvantages such as risk of carrying disease to the following cash crop and delayed emergence. These information sheets offer a direct way to compare species based on goals.
Sixteen New Cover Crop Species Added
The update team determined that 16 new cover crop species should be added to the tool, supporting greater flexibility and more cover crop options for diverse cropping systems. Some of the added species are growing in popularity across the state and may offer new alternatives to traditionally used species. For example, winter camelina is a winter-hardy brassica that can overwinter in Wisconsin, possibly offering a viable alternative to cereal rye in certain crop rotations. These newly added species include:
| Grasses | Brassicas | Legumes | Broadleaves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Triticale | Mustard | Common Vetch | Flax |
| Proso Millet | African Cabbage | Soybean | |
| German (Foxtail) Millet | Collards | White Clover | |
| Sorghum | Kale | Balansa Clover | |
| Black Oats | Winter Camelina | ||
| Corn |
Enhanced User Interface
The user interface has been updated to assist with decision-making. The tool has shifted from simply selecting a “current cash crop” to displaying the full “cash crop growing period” with anticipated planting and harvest dates. This overlay aligns the cash crop growing period with recommended cover crop planting windows, displaying when practices like interseeding into a standing crop are possible versus traditional post-harvest planting.
Explore the Updated Tool
Whether it’s fine-tuning an established cover crop system or trying cover crops for the first time, the updated MCCC Wisconsin cover crop selector tool is designed to help farmers make informed, data-driven decisions tailored to specific counties and farming goals.
Visit the updated decision tool today!