Planting cover crops - Articles

[Video] Getting Your Drill Ready to Seed Cover Crops

May 13, 2020 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Paul Gross, Field Crops Educator with Michigan State University Extension, explains why calibrating your grain drill is one of the most important things to do when planting cover crop seed, the differences when preparing to plant a single cover crop species or a cover crop mix, why you should always measure 200 feet in the field before calibration, and more.

[Podcast] Untreated Seed Can Reduce Pest Pressure

Many growers use treated seed to kill pests, but Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff says there are valid reasons to consider planting untreated cover crop seed. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

March 19, 2020 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Many growers use treated seed to kill pests, but Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff says there are valid reasons to consider planting untreated seed. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

States Should Incentivize Growing Cover Crops

By Sarah Hill posted on March 4, 2020

As we head into the 2020 growing season, many growers have probably put some thought to whether or not they will grow cover crops, and the reasons as to why or why not they will do so. Additional cost is one of the reasons why some growers have yet to fully embrace cover crops.

USDA Launches Pilot Program for Prairie Pothole Producers Planting Cover Crops

February 28, 2020 | Posted in Economics

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced a new pilot program that enables farmers in the Prairie Pothole region to receive payments for planting cover crops on their land for three to five years. The new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Soil Health and Income Protection Program (SHIPP) pilot is available to producers in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Movement for Cover Crop Discounts Needs Support

By John Dobberstein posted on December 6, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Should growers who plant cover crops get a discount on their crop insurance? Many conservation advocates think so, and that’s why a $3 million pilot project was kicked off 2 years ago in Iowa.

Cover Crops Extending the Cattle Grazing Season

December 4, 2019 | Posted in Grazing

Source: Hillsboro (Kan.) Star-Journal

Several farmers in Marion County, Kan. are turning to cover crops to extend the grazing season for their cattle, including cereal rye, annual ryegrass, oilseed radishes, forage turnips, oats, and triticale, reports the Hillsboro (Kan.) Star-Journal.

Weather Delaying Cover Crop Drilling in the Midwest

November 8, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Source: Rock Island Dispatch-Argus

From rain to snow, the harvest season has seen its fair share of delays across the Midwest. Cover crop applications have been progressing, and with aerial applications wrapping up in many areas, Justin King, a resource conservationist with the Illinois NRCS, said seeding has been a little more challenging this year. Read more in this article from the Rock Island Dispatch-Argus.

[Podcast] Drill & Planter Calibration for Planting Cover Crops

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.

July 24, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices

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. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

[Podcast] 5 Ideas for Making Cover Crops Pay for Themselves

Cover crops certainly produce a lot of benefits for growers in terms of soil health and nutrient management — but how, exactly, do you make them pay? Steve Groff says there are a several directions to go in that will build a solid foundation for economic benefits. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

June 5, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Cover crops certainly produce a lot of benefits for growers in terms of soil health and nutrient management — but how, exactly, do you make them pay? Steve Groff says there are a several directions to go in that will build a solid foundation for economic benefits. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)