Cover crops - Articles

More Soil Health Policies Needed

May 4, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Kenosha News

Calling it a “quiet crisis” in 2018, Ohio State University professor of soil science Rattan Lal said soil loss is a major issue that has been affecting farmers around the world for centuries. “The best practices are to not plow, keep the ground covered with residue and grow a cover crop in the off-season,” Lal said. Read more in this article from Kenosha News.

Consider Black Oats as a Cover Crop

May 4, 2020 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff says black oats have impressed him the past few years as a cover crop. The winter hardy Cosaque variety of black oats seems to be most popular and can even be used as a forage.

Cover Crops in High Country Pastures

April 29, 2020 | Posted in Grazing

Source: Lancaster Farming

Glenn Elzinga converted leased BLM land to organic, improving forage quality by improving the soil. When Elzinga began looking at the soil and the forages that they provided for his cattle, he wanted to do better. Read more in this article from Lancaster Farming.

Improving Soil Health in Vegetable Production with Cover Crops

April 29, 2020 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Using cover crops is a way to protect the soil and mitigate soil loss, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff, and that includes in vegetable production. Groff also explains how vegetable production can be done with no-till, how bare soil can lead to soil-borne disease in vegetable crops, how soil health and plant health are linked, and more.

Cover Crops, Livestock Bring Life to No-Till Farm

Planting green and integrating livestock is helping South Dakota no-tiller Jordan Reimnitz reduce soil erosion and improve soil health, improve livestock health and stretch winter feed supplies.

April 28, 2020 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Grower and livestock producer Jordan Reimnitz has seen the benefits of going completely no-till on his family farm and adding cover crops to enhance the benefits.

Managing Prevent Plant Acres This Spring

April 24, 2020 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Source: University of Minnesota Extension

The spring planting season is soon upon us. Prevent plant acres, or fields that were too wet to be planted to a cash crop last year, may need some special attention this season. Read more in this article from the University of Minnesota Extension.

Organic Soybean Producers Can Be Competitive with Reduced Tillage, Cover Crops

April 22, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Penn State University Extension

Organic soybean producers using no-till and reduced-tillage production methods that incorporate cover crops — strategies that protect soil health and water quality — can achieve similar yields at competitive costs compared to tillage-based production. That’s the conclusion of a new study by researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. Read more in this article from Penn State University Extension.

[Podcast] Best Cover Crops for Spring

In this week’s podcast, Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff discusses cover crop species that are best for planting in late winter/early spring. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

April 20, 2020 | Posted in Seeding Practices

In this week’s podcast, Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff discusses cover crop species that are best for planting in late winter/early spring. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

[Video] Choosing Cover Crops

April 20, 2020 | Posted in Seeding Practices

In this video, Dean Baas, Michigan State University Extension Sustainable Agriculture Educator, discusses why plants go through the same lifecycle, regardless of planting date; examples of summer annual cover crops; which cover crop species grow large amounts of biomass; and more.

Harvest Cover Crops as Hay or Straw

April 20, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Akron Beacon Journal

With the shortage and increasing price of quality hay and an increase in straw prices as well, spring of 2020 may be a season to harvest our winter cereal crops as either hay or straw, depending on your needs. Recent auction reports have hay averaging over $200/T (up to $350 in one report) and straw averaging $150/T. Read more in this article from the Akron Beacon Journal.