Soil health - Articles

Find Your Cover Crop ‘Coach’

By Sarah Hill posted on January 16, 2020

Farming is no different than sports, especially when implementing a new practice like cover planting crops. Out of the many growers I’ve talked to, those who have achieved success have a mentor, or multiple mentors to show them the ropes and get them moving in the right direction.

[Video] Improving Soil Through Cover Crops

December 30, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

Grain farmer Jeff Frey has used no-till on his 700-acre farm in Willow Street, Penn., since the 1980s. Despite these efforts, Frey knew he needed to do more to protect his soil from erosion.

[Video] No-Till Planting Into Rye

December 23, 2019 | Posted in Termination

If you are planning to plant into a rye cover crop, it's best to wait to do so until 10 days after spraying the cover crop, according to Kevin Shelley with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Nutrient & Pest Management Program.

Don’t Miss the Opportunities Offered by Covers

By Sarah Hill posted on December 23, 2019

What other opportunities do we miss in the agriculture industry, and in life, because on the surface, they may not look like they are worth taking? Cover crops are a perfect example.

More Minnesota Farmers Planting Cover Crops

December 17, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

When the earthworms started coming back, Tim Little knew he was doing something right. Little, who farms north of Faribault, Minnesota, saw more worms in his fields, gathering piles of dead plants above their holes, after he made a drastic departure from farming tradition.

[Video] Cover Crops After Corn Silage

December 10, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

In this video, find out what to look for when conducting evaluations in the field to compare soil that has a cover crop to soil without covers, including soil architecture and earthworm populations. Also, learn how to conduct a simple soil "pop" test.

A Lot at Stake with Cover Crop Adoption

By Sarah Hill posted on December 9, 2019

The state of Illinois recently released their biennial Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Report. The state has struggled with nutrient pollution in waterways and utilizing covers has been identified as a method for mitigating nutrient runoff. The problem lies in the rate of cover crop adoption. According to the report, it will be 200 years before Illinois will plant enough cover crops to make a significant reduction in nutrient runoff.

Iowa Operation Enhances Soil Health with Cover Crops

November 22, 2019 | Posted in Grazing

Source: Aberdeen News

A long-time no-tiller, Bo Fox, Monona County, Iowa, has expanded his crop management from no-tilling corn and soybeans to including crop rotations with small grains, cover crops, and livestock grazing of cover crops. While Bo has experimented with cover crops in the past, he recently worked with USDA’s NRCS to obtain planning and financial assistance to grow a diverse cover crop mix suitable for spring livestock grazing.

[Podcast] Cover Crops Can Heal the Soil

Soils plagued with compaction, aggregation and/or poor water infiltration don’t have to be that way forever. Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff explains how cover crops can help to improve the soil through a process including evaluation, soil testing and strategic planning for that soil. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

November 13, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

Soils plagued with compaction, aggregation and/or poor water infiltration don’t have to be that way forever. Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff explains how cover crops can help to improve the soil through a process including evaluation, soil testing and strategic planning for that soil. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Adding Livestock to Crop Systems Improves Soil Health

November 12, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: South Dakota State University Extension

In the last 100 years, many producers have become specialized and highly efficient at producing specific crops or livestock. This has helped to meet demand as the global population continues to grow. Find out how cover crops fit into a crop system with livestock.