Soil Health - Articles

East Oregon Farmer Saves Soil, Water with Covers

July 6, 2017 | Posted in Soil Health

Despite the common assumption growers can't make cover crops work on dryland wheat in eastern Oregon, Wasco County wheat grower Noah Williams is working with his local NRCS and the county's Soil and Water Conservation District experts to seed covers to reduce erosion, retain soil moisture and build more organic matter.

Webinar Replay

[Webinar] Herbicide Rotational Restrictions — What We’ve Learned the Past 5 Years

June 14, 2017 | Posted in Soil Health

In this free webinar sponsored by La Crosse Seed, producers of the Soil First Premium cover crop seed, Scott Wohltman, Agronomist and Cover Crop Lead for La Crosse Seed, discussed the latest information on herbicide carryover and rotational restrictions. [To view any of our webinar replays, you must be logged in with a free user account.]

Finding a Weed Control Plan that Won’t Hurt Your Covers

Environment, herbicide chemistries, cover crop species and timing of herbicide application and cover crop seeding all play a role in herbicide carryover to covers.

By Laura Barrera posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Soil Health

Environment, herbicide chemistries, cover crop species and timing of herbicide application and cover crop seeding all play a role in herbicide carryover to covers.

What I've Learned From No-Tilling: Focus on Organic Matter, Flexibility Keeps No-Till Farm One Step Ahead

A wide range of equipment and strategies are employed for applying nutrients, managing cover crops and getting the job done.

By Nick Guetterman and Martha Mintz posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

A wide range of equipment and strategies are employed for applying nutrients, managing cover crops and getting the job done.

Cover Crop Residue Can Complicate Nitrogen Management in Corn

June 4, 2017 | Posted in Soil Health

But the good news, says University of Missouri Extension, is that corn is very resilient when it comes to nitrogen management, and there is time to apply nitrogen to stressed corn.

Finding Detailed Information on the Attributes of Cover Crops

May 25, 2017 | Posted in Soil Health, Economics

Source: Kansas State University Extension

If you're considering planting a cover crop after wheat this year and are looking for ideas, the Midwest Cover Crops Council's selector tool is a good place to find some basic information, says Kansas State University Extension.

No-Till on the Plains

Tracking Microbial Impact on Crop Production

April 26, 2017 | Posted in Soil Health

Integration of no-till, crop diversity and cover crops increases microbial activity and diversity and can boost crop yields by 15-30%, with the same or even reduced inputs, says USDA researcher Randy Anderson.

What I've Learned From No-Tilling: No-Till Lays Foundation for Consistent Crops, Rain or Shine

Financial challenges pushed Mike Belan’s family into conservation practices, but the Ontario no-tiller is focusing on improving soil health to propel the farm forward.

By Mike Belan and Martha Mintz posted on April 15, 2017 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

High interest rates were the push my dad and uncle needed to make the switch to no-till on our farm. They had long raised wheat, corn and soybeans on our generally flat Brookston clay fields that sit just 30 miles north and south, respectively of Lake Erie and Lake Huron.

Discussing Manure, Cover Crops and Soil Health

April 12, 2017 | Posted in Soil Health

Saskatchewan farmer and agronomist Jocelyn Velestuk talks with the Alberta Canola Producers Commission about her love of soil, with tips on fertilizer, cover crops, manure and maintaining soil health.