With the soybeans being harvested a little earlier than usual this year, some producers are finding themselves making management decisions which often include the use of cover crops. There are a lot of agronomic benefits for planting cover crops such as soil health, soil erosion control, weed reduction, animal feed, and nutrient recycling. Read more in this article from South Dakota State University Extension.

After corn is chopped and combines move through fields, crop residue and stubble remains, leading some growers to tillage processes, yet soil experts continue to encourage growers to leave the stubble for the sake of soil health. According to the most recent Agricultural Resources Management Survey on the production practices of corn, cotton, soybean and wheat, data shows that roughly half (51%) growers used either no-till or strip-till at least once over a four-year period. Read more in this article from the Star-Herald (Scottsbluff, NE).

“How many cattle should I put on my cover crops and how long should they graze?” We went right to North Dakota State University's Miranda Meehan to get an answer and here’s what she said. Read more in this article from AgWeek.

When David Neuharth started his 3Y3 Ranch in the 1980s near Hayes, S.D., he noticed a trend among area producers. “Everything in this country and in Stanley County around in the area was pretty much a 50-50 deal,” David said. “Half summer fallow … and the other half was winter wheat.” Read more in this article from the Aberdeen News (Aberdeen, SD).

Healthy soil is essential to agriculture, but it can be tricky to adequately assess soil health test results, which are influenced by biology, chemistry, fertility, time of sampling, timing of farming and other variables. That’s why the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is developing a user-friendly, online tool to help farmers and agronomists easily interpret their soil health test results and convert them into an action plan. Read more in this article from the Iowa Soybean Association.

In this video from Iowa State University Extension, find out what tools you need to conduct a visual assessment of soil health, why assessing soil health should be done over time, where soil health should be evaluated in a field, and more.

South Dakota is known for its variety, and Don Nickelson’s operation in Frederick is no exception. With the help of his wife, Trista, and sons Aiden, Gavin, and Ian, Nickelson raises cattle and also grows corn, soybeans, oats, triticale and alfalfa in addition to some cover crops. Read more in this article from Tri-State Livestock News.

Fall harvest has started but farmers also need to think about planting cover crops. USDA-SARE publication (10 Ways Cover Crops Enhance Soil Health) states “Cover crops lead to better soil health and potentially better farm profits.” Here is a 10-point summary from Ohio's Country Journal.

In this video from the Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Rural Affairs, hear from a speaker lineup about topics including fall cover crops, visual evaluation of soil structure, manure application on forages, and more.

Adding livestock to a cover crop system is considered the last step in bringing cover crops full circle in an operation. One Kansas grower and livestock producer shares insights from 35-plus years of no-till, 23 years of cover cropping and using livestock to increase his soil’s health and productivity while significantly reducing input costs.