Cover crops - Articles

No-Till, Cover Crops Key to Building Healthy Soil

October 23, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

On a windy autumn day, Dan Leininger, a water conservationist with the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District, stands in a field of ripe soybeans on the northeast side of York, Neb. While the beans are impressive, Leininger gets down on one knee to show what he’s most proud of. Find out more in this article from the York News-Times.

[Video] Florida Cover Cropping on a Diversified Vegetable Operation

October 21, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Cody Galligan runs a certified organic, highly diversified vegetable operation on seven acres, with local sales through a CSA, farm-to-table events and direct to restaurants.

Interseeding Alfalfa as a Cover Crop

October 21, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Source: Hoard's Dairyman

John Grabber, a research agronomist for the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, presented on interseeding alfalfa into corn silage at World Dairy Expo on Wednesday, October 2. “The reason we’re trying to develop this system is to take care of several issues or shortcomings we have with corn and corn silage/alfalfa rotations,” said Grabber. Read more in this article from Hoard's Dairyman.

Planting Cover Crops After Small Grain Harvest

October 21, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Typically, double cropping done after small grains is planting soybeans in wheat stubble, but not always, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff. Some growers plant a crop after barley, oats or other small grain crops, and cover crops are a viable choice for planting in late summer. The amount of precipitation is also a factor in deciding whether to plant cover crops after small grains. The type of cover crop planted can also play a role in helping increase yields the following growing year.

Soil Erosion, Water Quality Improved from Grazing & Cover Crops

October 18, 2019 | Posted in Grazing

Source: Wisconsin State Farmer

Preventing soil erosion and nutrient runoff, and improving water quality are issues that are important to farmers, elected officials and the general public. Derrick Raspor, soil conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, demonstrated the effects of different cropping systems on surface and ground water during a recent field day hosted by Rachel Bouressa on the Bouressa Family Farm. Read more in this article from the Wisconsin State Farmer.

Sustainable Farming, Including Cover Crops, is Economically Challenging for Farmers

October 18, 2019 | Posted in Economics

Source: The Daily Iowan

Mitchell Hora grows corn and soybeans in Washington County on a farm his family has owned for 115 years. He started planting cover crops four years ago and just recently started seeing economic progress after losing $100 an acre in his first year. Read more in this article from The Daily Iowan.

From the Web

Soil Sense Podcast Talks About Farmers Building Soil Health

October 17, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

This 15-episode podcast series weaves together the stories of how farmers are utilizing soil health building practices on their farms in conjunction with help from their trusted advisers and using partnerships with researchers and Extension specialists to better understand their systems. This series touches on the soil health movement in North Dakota with ideas on both successes and failures.

[Podcast] Using Soil Health Tests

Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff says that in the past 5-10 years, soil health testing has grown in popularity, but they aren’t a silver bullet for detecting all soil health problems. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

October 16, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff says that in the past 5-10 years, soil health testing has grown in popularity, but they aren’t a silver bullet for detecting all soil health problems. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

[Video] Combining No-Till, Cover Crops & Manure

October 16, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

Dan DeSutter farms 4,500 acres in west central Indiana with his wife and three sons. Formerly a financial analyst and commodity broker, Dan uses no-till, cover crops and manure to improve soil quality while maintaining high levels of crop production. In 2013, he was selected National No-Till Innovator of the Year.

Using Soil Health Tests

October 16, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff says that in the past 5-10 years, soil health testing has grown in popularity, but they aren’t a silver bullet for detecting all soil health problems. In this podcast, learn about the different types of soil tests available, what they can measure and why each one is important.