Cover crops - Articles

Farmers Adopting Soil Health Strategies

August 2, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

Healthy soil can be achieved through no-till, nutrient management, pest management and cover crops, says Derek Thompson, district conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in this article from the Fort Wayne Business Weekly.

[Podcast] Climate Change & Cover Crops

Climate change is one of those hot-button topics that everyone has an opinion on. Regardless of the cause, science has shown that global temperatures are rising, and agriculture will have to adapt in order to continue feeding the world.

August 1, 2019 | Posted in Economics

More growers are increasingly becoming interested in raising organic crops. While food-grade organic crops merit a larger return on investment, they also require a high level of quality and present unique challenges in marketing those crops. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Cover Crop Utilization Across Nebraska & Implications for Cropland Lease Arrangements in 2019

July 26, 2019 | Posted in Economics

Source: University of Nebraska Agricultural Economics

The Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey and Report 2018-2019 provides insight on recent trends in the market value of land and cash rental across the state. Each year the special feature section from this report covers topics on new or emerging issues related to the agricultural land industry in Nebraska, according to an article from the University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture & Natural Resources Agricultural Economics department.

[Video] Cover Crops Are Essential

July 25, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

"If somebody posed the question - would I farm without cover crops - I would say no," says Kirk Brock, who grows peanuts, corn and soybeans on 1,000 acres in Northern Florida. Cereal rye has been Brock's go-to cover crop, but he is now experimenting with mixes that include ryegrass, clover and blue lupine.

Cover Crops Eligible for USDA FSA Market Facilitation Program Payments

July 25, 2019 | Posted in Economics

USDA officials held a conference call on July 25 announcing further details of the $16 billion package to support American farmers. One of the highlights was new information on the Market Facilitation Program (MFP).

Drill & Planter Calibration for Planting Cover Crops

July 24, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Planting is always a challenging process, but planting cover crops can take that challenge to the next level with different seed shapes, sizes and densities. Each type of cover crop requires that the planter be calibrated differently, and multi-species mixes make it even more puzzling to find the best calibration. Whether you use a drill or a planter can also impact your approach. Steve Groff, Pennsylvania cover crop expert, shares some different methods for calibrating drills and planters to prepare for planting cover crops.

What Cover Crops to Plant When

July 17, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Source: South Dakota State University Extension

As many Midwest producers look to cover crops to build soil health and/or provide supplemental forage after a soggy spring, many questions are arising regarding management decisions, specifically species selection and planting timing. This press release from South Dakota State University outlines those questions.

[Video] Cover Crops Protect the Soil

July 17, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

Swallowtail Farm, started in 2009 by Noah Shitama, markets a diverse range of produce largely through a 220-member CSA and restaurant sales.

Cover Crops May Be Best Option for Still-Flooded Farmers

July 15, 2019 | Posted in Economics

Source: Mitchell Daily Republic

Flooding may have officially ruined the corn-growing season for many farmers as agriculture experts urge producers to consider skipping the cash crop altogether. Read more in this article from the Mitchell Daily Republic.

Managing Herbicides When Planting Cover Crops

July 8, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

When planting cover crops, there are three factors to keep in mind in the context of using herbicides to control weeds: the herbicide half-life, the amount of rainfall received and the amount of organic matter.