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Farmers’ Biggest Challenge with Growing Cover Crops: Time

Growers want the soil health benefits of cover crops, but some say it’s a struggle to get them planted during short planting windows.
By Sarah Hill posted on June 23, 2020 | Posted in Seeding Practices
Using cover crops is not a short-term investment. In fact, it’s the complete opposite. Cover crops are an investment in the long-term soil health and a conscious decision to focus more on stewardship of the land rather than short-term profits.
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Herbicides Still Most Popular Cover Crop Termination Method

By Sarah Hill posted on June 23, 2020 | Posted in Termination
As with all things related to cover crops, growers have a bevy of options to choose from, including termination methods. According to the results of the first-ever Cover Crop Benchmark Study conducted by Cover Crop Strategies, herbicides were the termination method of choice for a whopping 69% of growers in 2019.
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Soybeans Set Up for Cover Crops

June 22, 2020 | Posted in Seeding Practices
Source: AgriNews
Soybean planting is well ahead of the five-year average through mid-May and provides an opportunity to consider cover crops. John Pike, agronomic consultant and researcher at Pike Ag, Marion, spoke of developing a system to successfully manage soybeans and cover crops in a breakout sessions at the Illinois Soybean Association’s Soybean Summit. Read more in this article from AgriNews.
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Roller Crimping Cover Crops

June 19, 2020 | Posted in Termination
Source: Ohio's Country Journal
Crop roller “crimping” has become a common way to mechanically terminate cover crops. Crimpers are used to kill grass cover crops (cereal rye, barley, wheat, sorghum, Sudan, pearl millet), vetches (hairy and common), annual clovers (crimson and balansa), buckwheat, and multi-species cover crops. Read more in this article from Ohio's Country Journal.
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Reduce Forage Shortages with Cover Crops

June 19, 2020 | Posted in Grazing
Source: Aberdeen News
Cover crops can be immediately planted following grain crop harvest, or during fallow in a rotation, which provides extra forage in the fall that can be harvested or grazed. Many producers are already inserting full season cover crops for grazing into their cropping rotation.
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Cover Crops Provide High Quality Forage

June 17, 2020 | Posted in Grazing
Source: Lincoln Journal Star
While cover crops are not a new concept for farmers, Erika Lundy said she has been impressed with the amount of adaptation and implementation she has seen over the past few years. Lundy, a beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension, said one of the major benefits of cover crops is providing high-quality forage for cattle with high protein and energy levels. Read more in this article from the Lincoln Journal Star.
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Are You Familiar with the Haney Soil Test?

June 17, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health
Source: University of Minnesota Extension
The Haney soil health test, named for USDA scientist Rick Haney, includes more than a dozen different soil test values. These include standard macro- and micro-nutrients for plant consumption, but what’s different about the Haney test is that it also estimates nutrients for microbial consumption, focusing on how much carbon (C ) and nitrogen (N) is in the soil. Read more in this article from University of Minnesota Extension.
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Cover Crops Can Help Counteract Climate Change

June 15, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health
Source: Roll Call
Major farm and livestock groups held a press conference in February to project a united voice on an issue they’ve long avoided. The coalition leaders said they wanted to join the fight against climate change rather than remain cast as villains avoiding the responsibility. Read more in this article from Roll Call.
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Consider Planting Green

June 15, 2020 | Posted in Termination
Source: Lancaster Farming
Those who did have the chance to burn down cover crops may notice the dead residue insulating the soil. This is excellent for soil conservation, traps excess moisture and slows evaporation, so soil takes longer to dry enough to be suitable for corn and soybean planting. Read more in this article from Lancaster Farming.
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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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Cover Cropping in Integrated Farming Systems

Cover Cropping in Integrated Farming Systems

Last week we had boots on the ground at the Big Soil Health Event in Cedar Falls, Iowa where agronomist David Kleinschmidt emphasized the importance of considering Carbon to Nitrogen ratios of cover crops and residues.

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