Cover crops - Articles

Cover Cropping 101: 11 Dos and Don'ts

Two experts share their tips for what to try & what to avoid when getting started with cover crops.

January 29, 2023

TJ Kartes and Andy Linder both have first-hand experience with the highs and lows of cover cropping.

Cover Crops Reduce Erosion, Improve Soil Health on Nebraska Farm

January 4, 2023 | Posted in Grazing, Soil Health

Source: Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District

Dave and Dan Rech of Butler County, Neb., have been experimenting with cover crops to further reduce erosion and to improve soil health.

Study: Cover Crops Reduce Sediment, Phosphorus Loss

December 14, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Science Direct

Cover crops reduce sediment loss and total phosphorus loss from no-till corn and soybean fields, according to a study published in the Journal of Environmental Management.

This Week

Cover Crop Strategies' Best of the Web: Nov. 25, 2022

November 25, 2022

Cover Crop Strategies editors encounter a variety of articles, social media posts, podcasts and videos that offer a unique look at various aspects of our great agricultural industry. Here is our favorite content from the past week. The Best of the Web This Week series is brought to you by Salford Group.

Cover Crops

Long-Term Cover Cropping 'Reinvigorates' Iowa Farmer's Soils

Jeff Olson is protecting soil and improving water infiltration with a mixed bag of application methods and plenty of patience.

By Libby Wawzenek posted on November 4, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Jeff Olson of Winfield, Iowa, certainly sees the benefits of employing cover crops — not only in terms of his yields, but also how they have reinvigorated the soil.

Consider Cover Crops First To Fight Drought

By James Hoorman posted on November 3, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health, Termination

The Midwest is dry and experiencing drought problems, especially the Mississippi river with reduced barge traffic. Most no-tillers want to know: what is the probability of a drought next year?

NASS Survey: Confidence, Benefits Exceeding Cost Motivate Cover Cropping

By Brian O'Connor posted on November 1, 2022 | Posted in Economics

A recent survey of 34,000 U.S. producers found that about 59% are using cover crops on an average of 40% of their acres.

La Crosse Seed Acquires Deer Creek Seed

October 31, 2022

La Crosse Seed has acquired Deer Creek Seed (Windsor, Wis.), the company announced Monday

Cover Rates

Cover Croppers Increase, but not for Carbon Control

October 25, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Economics

Source: Ag Funder News

The number of farms in the US planting cover crops is rising. In September 2020, 40% of farms surveyed for the Purdue University/CME Ag Economy Barometer said they intended to plant cover crops that fall. In September 2022, that number jumped to 57%.

[Video] Proof is in the Percentages with Cover Crops & Soil Health

October 19, 2022

Wayne Fredericks, a strip-tiller from Osage, Iowa, has reduced his use of fertilizers by 30% on his 750-acre farm, thanks to strip-till and cover crops. Since the 1980s, Fredericks has collected soil data to measure soil health, and found that his soil organic matter has increased by 2.5% in 25 years. Fredericks will share how his cash crops have remained competitive while utilizing covers, how cover crops have helped reduce nitrates in the water on his farm, how he's built his farm up to 100% cover crop coverage, and more.