Building cover crop expertise with citizen science in the upper Midwest: supporting farmer innovation in a time of change

The use of cover cropping, as one element in a continuous living approach, has the potential to protect water quality and promote soil health, but overall U.S. acreage crops well adoption rates remain low. Research on behavioral barriers crop indicates lack information about locally suitable practices varieties, additional management complexity cropping high degree uncertainty outcomes, especially areas with shorter growing seasons. This paper describes development citizen science project Wisconsin designed (i) generate more geographically distributed data performance state; (ii) build understanding farmer decision-making around practices, barriers, motivations for cropping. Citizen science, it relies physically members public generation, is established an avenue generating environmental data. We engage approach tool also researching influences individual behavior identifying leverage points change, on-farm innovation experimentation. I share findings regarding biomass production, results participatory approaches those farmers. offers general insights into how model can be used expand contexts, develop responsive outreach efforts that support participants taking action.