Collectively, Hormel Foods and Target will provide $1.7 million for farmers to participate in the pilot and adopt practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage and nutrient management. The goal is to enroll up to 50,000 acres.

The Practical Farmers of Iowa shares four tips to consider for the next planting season, based on data from a survey of its farm members.

Researchers went out about 2-3 weeks after farmers started grazing a cover crop field to measure standing and post-grazing cover crop biomass, and soil health before, the day after, and 2-3 weeks after grazing. One big factor determining profit was the number of times the cover crop could be grazed, and the quantity of grazed biomass consumed.

A recent study led by the American Soybean Association (ASA) claims to demonstrate the differing value of two agricultural working lands conservation programs and their ability to create increased adoption of cover crops. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) takes issue with several aspects of the study.

Dr. Bill Robertson, extension cotton specialist for Arkansas, offers 7 points of advice for growers to consider when planning cover crop strategies for the fall.

Small grains like barley or oats are often the first choice for establishing a cover crop on PP acres. The seed supplies of barley and oats are likely to be very tight and you may be looking far and wide to find some.

Researchers at Western Illinois University, Illinois State University, and several other institutions are in the midst of studying the viability of pennycress as a cash cover crop for farmers. Win Phippen, Director of the Alternative Crops Research program at Western, is excited about the progress they’re making.