An important aspect of raising cover crops is terminating them. Growers have options when it comes to terminating covers, and factors such as cost, location, and weather come into play as well.
Harvesting corn for silage removes nearly all aboveground biomass, and this can be detrimental to soil. Despite degrading most near-surface soil properties, corn silage did not negatively impact subsequent soybean yields. Read more in this article from University of Nebraska Extension.
Targeted Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) signup opens in 10 states to help agricultural producers plan and implement voluntary conservation practices that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change on working lands.
With the short-season available for growing cover crops after corn harvest, interest in interseeding cover crops into corn and soybean crops has increased in recent years. Interseeding is primarily done with a drill early in the season prior to crop canopy closure or via broadcast seeding late in the season, prior to harvest when the crop canopy begins to re-open. Read more in this article from University of Nebraska Extension.
The images coming out of the Upper Midwest and High Plains region of the U.S. this spring are reminiscent of the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Relentless wind coupled with dry conditions have led to severe soil erosion, and the situation was made worse in areas lacking cover crops. Read more in this article from Lancaster Farming.
Roughly one-third of growers participating in the 2021 Cover Crop Strategies Cover Crop Benchmark Study are using the practice, compared to 13.5% in the 2020 study.
A report from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture noted that just 2 percent to 8 percent of the cropland acres examined in the 20-county study had been planted with cover crops – a telling number that could be difficult to budge because of the state’s climate and few markets for crops like hazelnuts and turnips that can be grown during the winter. Read more in this article from Minnpost.
President Joe Biden’s proposal to pay U.S. farmers to plant cover crops and sequester carbon in the soil is both needed and necessary. That’s according to Dr. Paul Mitchell, professor of agricultural and applied economics at UW-Madison. Read more in this article from The Star News (Medford, WI).
It is crucial to consider current soil moisture conditions and expected rainfall if you are planning to plant green. Our research shows that planting green significantly dries the top 3 inches in the soil profile, compared to planting into cover crops that are killed a week or more prior. Read more in this article from Lancaster Farming.
University of Minnesota Extension researchers have started a small trial examining the predation rate of insect pests in differently managed row crop fields. We compared pest predation in row crop fields with cover crops to predation rates in fields without cover crops. Read more in this article from Farm Forum.
The National Strip-Tillage Conference returns August 8-9, 2024!Build and refine your strip-till system with dozens of new ideas and connections at the 11th Annual National Strip-Tillage Conference in Madison, Wis. Aug. 8-9, 2024. Experience an energizing 2-day agenda featuring inspiring general session speakers, expert-led Strip-Till Classrooms and collaborative Strip-Till Roundtables. Plus, Certified Crop Adviser credits will be offered.
I’m in Sacramento, Calif., this week at FIRA USA and we’re just going to get right into it. Why don’t you take a look at some of the newest and most exciting Ag technology on display at this year’s conference.