Cover crop - Articles

The Do’s & Don’ts of Setting Up Farm Trials: Part 2

August 4, 2020 | Posted in Economics

Source: Cover Crop Corner

Last month, southeast Iowa cash and livestock producer Michael Vittetoe shared his insight into how his family farm has used cover crop trials to integrate new practices into their operation. In part two of this two-part Cover Crop Corner series, cover crop consultant David Kleinschmidt discusses key factors producers need to consider before setting up a trial, and what data to collect.

[Video] Optimizing Corn Yields After Cereal Rye

July 17, 2020 | Posted in Termination

Alison Robertson, Professor and Extension Field Crops Pathologist with Iowa State University discusses why cereal rye is a vector for diseases in corn, why timing of planting corn after cereal rye is very important, how pythium impacts corn yields, and more.

Considerations for Planting Green

June 3, 2020 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Source: University of Nebraska Extension

An increasing number of growers are ‘planting green’ or have asked questions regarding this practice. ‘Planting green’ means the corn or soybean is planted directly into a growing cover crop (most often a small grain like rye or wheat) without killing it by herbicide or mechanical means first. Read more in this article from University of Nebraska Extension.

Plan for Prevent Planting

May 26, 2020 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Source: AgWeek

It’s tough to think about prevented planting, but coming up with a plan for those fields now is critical for following through with effective management. Bottom line is that something needs to be growing on those fields in 2020 to use water and prepare them for 2021. Read more in this article from AgWeek.

Prepare Prevent Plant Acres for Spring

May 22, 2020 | Posted in Termination

Source: The Land

The spring planting season is soon upon us. Prevent plant acres, or fields which were too wet to be planted to a cash crop last year, may need some special attention this season. Read more in this article from The Land.

It Always Comes Back to the Land

May 6, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Rock Island Dispatch-Argus

Wayne Fredericks walks out into a cornfield on his northern Iowa farm and points out the first bits of spring growth of a cover crop shooting through the cornstalks. “We didn’t use cover crops years ago,” he says. “In fact, when I first started farming in 1973 … we didn’t treat the land very well.” Read more in this article from the Rock Island Dispatch Argus (Davenport, Iowa).

Too Early to Tell If Cover Crop Seed Availability Will Be An Issue

April 17, 2020 | Posted in Economics

Source: Kenosha Newshttps://www.kenoshanews.com/agriculture/availability-key-to-fall-s-cover-crop-seed-costs/article_40473dc3-cd4c-52dc-b404-c1bf008e79d9.html

With much of the cover crop planted last fall just starting its spring growth, it’s too early to tell if cover crop seed availability will be an issue after this season, according to seed dealer Arvin Vos. Delays in planting last fall could mean lower supply or higher prices for 2020. Read more in this article from Kenosha News.

Soil Health Practices Help Minnesota Farmer

April 8, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: The Calendonia Argus (Houston County, MN)

As more and more farms find different ways to utilize their land, one Minnesota farm is using soil health practices to help them out. Connor McCormick, who farms just outside of Caledonia along with his dad Kevin, said their first time using a cover crop – cereal rye – turned out pretty good. Read more in this article from the Caledonia Argus (Houston County, MN).

SARE Asks Cover Crop Growers to Participate in Survey

March 26, 2020

Once again, the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education program (SARE) is sending out a national cover crop survey to farmers. They are asking farmers to complete the online survey by April 12.

10-Year Study: Covers Help Improve Soil

March 13, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Iowa Public Radio

Iowa Learning Farms and Practical Farmers of Iowa conducted a 10-year study on the conservation benefits of planting cereal rye as a cover crop on corn and soybean fields. Their results show the practice improves soil health. Read more in this story from Iowa Public Radio.