Sarah Hill

Tile Drainage Boosts Cover, Cash Crop Yields

By Sarah Hill posted on March 30, 2021

Tile drainage is one of those topics where there are a lot of opinions. A recent update on a 35-year study at Purdue University confirmed that tile drainage enhances the value of cover crops and no-till.

Cover Crops, Reduced Tillage Decreases Phosphorus Runoff, Soil Erosion

By Sarah Hill posted on March 17, 2021

If your operation’s goals are to reduce phosphorus (P) runoff and soil erosion while increasing yields, cover crops can certainly help — as nearly 30 Wisconsin farmers have discovered.

Hedging Your Long-Term Weed Control Bets to Reduce Herbicide Reliance

No-tiller and crop consultant Jon Spreng, Perrysville, Ohio, says the biggest challenge to combining no-till and cover crops is finding a permanent weed control solution.

By Sarah Hill posted on March 10, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Herbicides alone aren’t going to be enough to control weeds in the long run, says Jon Spreng, a no-tiller and crop consultant from Perrysville, Ohio. The current herbicide choices available on the market may last 10-30 years, but unless new active ingredients come along, the fourth-generation grower says he believes that weed resistance will only get worse.

Cover Crops Thrive with Manure

By Sarah Hill posted on February 18, 2021

I recently spoke with three Ohio cover crop growers who have found an innovative way to incorporate manure using a dragline application. The dragline is also a unique tool for terminating their cover crops.

Carinata: An Oilseed Crop with Plenty of Potential

By Sarah Hill posted on February 3, 2021

A potential new cover crop is becoming gaining traction as a highly sustainable crop for livestock feed. Also known as Ethiopian mustard, carinata, a cousin of canola, has high protein levels, up to 46%, making it perfect for livestock feed due to its higher protein content compared to other small oilseeds.

Cover Crops Can Bridge Gap Between Conventional, Organic Production Practices

By Sarah Hill posted on January 18, 2021

While there is much to be debated about consumers’ thought process when it comes to buying food, organic growers have certainly embraced cover crops. According to an article in political newspaper The Hill, in 2019, 46% of U.S. organic farms planted covers, with 36% using no-till or minimum tillage.

Cover Crops: An Opportunity to Improve Ag Literacy

By Sarah Hill posted on January 6, 2021

“People like seeing livestock grazing on cover crops. It’s aesthetically pleasing.”

Cover Crops Can Influence Pest Populations

By Sarah Hill posted on December 21, 2020

Cover crops have numerous benefits, which we’ve discussed at length in this blog—everything from improving soil health, increasing water infiltration, suppressing weeds, and more. One under-utilized benefit of covers is how cover crops can be used for pest management.

Are Your Covers Ready for Winter?

By Sarah Hill posted on December 8, 2020

At the 2020 Farm Science Review earlier this August, a team of Extension educators planted multiple cover crop species, including forage turnips, clover, ryegrass, hairy vetch, radish, canola, regular turnips, balansa clover, sorghum, and oats. The team will be monitoring the cover crops over the winter to see how each species, except for the clovers, breaks down.

Using Covers to Produce Biomass Offers Multiple Benefits

By Sarah Hill posted on November 24, 2020

There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to utilizing cover crops. Cover crops can be a boon for soil health, but how much the covers can improve the soil depends on how much biomass that cover crop species produces.

Articles by Sarah Hill

Tile Drainage Boosts Cover, Cash Crop Yields

Cover Crops, Reduced Tillage Decreases Phosphorus Runoff, Soil Erosion

Hedging Your Long-Term Weed Control Bets to Reduce Herbicide Reliance

Cover Crops Thrive with Manure

Carinata: An Oilseed Crop with Plenty of Potential

Cover Crops Can Bridge Gap Between Conventional, Organic Production Practices

Cover Crops: An Opportunity to Improve Ag Literacy

Cover Crops Can Influence Pest Populations

Are Your Covers Ready for Winter?

Using Covers to Produce Biomass Offers Multiple Benefits

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