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Cover Crops Solve Soil Compaction

August 30, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health
Source: Cadillac News
Due to the very wet spring in 2019, farmers were forced to work their soil wetter then they prefer to be able to plant their crop. When soils are tilled when wet, soil compaction will occur. When soils are compacted they are less productive and less healthy. Compacted soils have less pore space, and that means that plant roots might not be able to 'breathe,‘ and both root development and nutrient uptake are restricted.
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Cash crops and cover crops

Growers Trying Out Triple Threat of Cash Crops, Cover Crops & Companion Crops

August 28, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health
Source: The Fence Post
The use of cover crops within a rotation is commonplace for many producers, given the soil health benefits. Some producers are moving toward utilizing companion crops, planting a cover crop with a cash crop and allowing them to grow simultaneously. For livestock producers, having forage available to graze earlier, can be a benefit itself. Find out more about growing these two types of crops together in this article from The Fence Post.
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Different crops come with much different rooting zones, and soil specialists are urging farmers to keep that in mind when choosing cover crop mixes. photo: Alexis Stockford

Calculating a Good Cover Crop Plan

August 26, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health
Source: Manitoba Cooperator
Cover crops have gained their champions in Manitoba. The practice is cited among other alternative grazing strategies like bale or swath grazing to extend the grazing season and, arguably, improve soil, according to livestock and forage organizations. Find out why growers need more than a cursory plan in this article from Manitoba Cooperator.
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[Video] Growing 365 Days a Year

August 26, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health
Jim Hershey farms 500 acres in Southeast Pennsylvania, where he grows corn, wheat, soybeans and barley along with raising organic broiler chickens and hogs. He has been using cover crops for the last three years.
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Rejuvenate Fields by Tapping Power of Sunlight

August 23, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health
Source: Tri-State Neighbor
As soybeans started to blossom in Andy Lacey’s field west of Trent, another plant was in full bloom, sprouting clusters of white within the rows of beans. The white were the flowers of buckwheat — one of three cover crop species Lacey planted a week after his soybeans this spring. Find out how Lacey captures sunlight in this article from Tri-State Neighbor.
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The Facts on Nitrogen Release Using Cover Crops in the Dakotas

August 21, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health
Source: AgWeek
There's this idea floating around that cover crops will take up nitrogen this growing season and then release that nitrogen for next year's crop. Add on top of that, an ability to anticipate when that nitrogen will be released by selecting specific cover crops in a mix (this is the C:N ratio stuff you hear about). Find out more in this article from AgWeek by Abbey Wick, North Dakota State University Extension Soil Health Specialist.
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[Podcast] Cover Crop Lessons Learned in Hungary

Hungary is the destination for this week’s podcast, as Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff shares his observations from visiting the country for their first-ever soil health conference. Hungarian growers are just becoming more interested in cover crops and no-till, despite the fact that they plow up to 90% of their land.
August 20, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health
Hungary is the destination for this week’s podcast, as Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff shares his observations from visiting the country for their first-ever soil health conference. Hungarian growers are just becoming more interested in cover crops and no-till, despite the fact that they plow up to 90% of their land. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)
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[Video] Cover Crops in Every Rotation

August 20, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health
At Frog Song Organics in North Central Florida, John Bitter grows a little bit of everything, upwards of 80 crops in a year. Figuring out his rotations is the key to success as an organic farmer, and cover crops are an integral part of every rotation.
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Cover Crop Lessons Learned in Hungary

August 20, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health
Hungary is the destination for this week’s podcast, as Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff shares his observations from visiting the country for their first-ever soil health conference. Hungarian growers are just becoming more interested in cover crops and no-till, despite the fact that they plow up to 90% of their land.  Groff explains why it’s important to review the basics of cover cropping, why radishes are the best choice for a beginning cover crop, what lupins are, and much more.







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The National No-Tillage Conference returns January 7-10, 2025! Build and refine your no-till system with dozens of new ideas and connections at the 33rd Annual National No-Tillage Conference in Louisville, Ky. Jan. 7-10, 2025. Experience an energizing 4-day agenda featuring inspiring general session speakers, expert-led No-Till Classrooms and collaborative No-Till Roundtables. Plus, Certified Crop Adviser credits will be offered.

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Ray McCormick’s Conservation Buffer

Ray McCormick’s Conservation Buffer

Earlier this week we paid another visit to this year’s Conservation Ag Operator Fellow, Ray McCormick in Vincennes, Ind., and one thing about Ray is that even when it’s the “off season,” he’s still thinking ahead for next season.
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