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Cover Crops: What’s Old is New Again

By Sarah Hill posted on February 4, 2020
There is a saying that everything that is old becomes new again. Many things come and go in a cycle. I saw evidence of how cover crops were once utilized by farmers on a Facebook page I follow that talks about covers. Someone posted an excerpt from the book Agriculture for Southern Schools by John Frederick Duggar, which was published in 1910, that discussed cover crops at length.
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State Looks to Remove Barrier to Growing Cover Crops

By Sarah Hill posted on January 27, 2020
Maryland growers may see a change in the laws around cover crops. Frederick County Delegate Ken Kerr (D) plans to re-introduce a bill that would allow farmers growing cover crops to harvest them. Currently, the state of Maryland pays growers $75 per acre to grow covers, but if they take the money, they aren’t allowed to harvest the crop.
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Choose Your Cover Crop Species with Care

By Sarah Hill posted on January 20, 2020
Each crop year is different, and there will be various reasons influencing the decision of what cover crops to use — the amount of biomass you want produced, your preferred method of cover crop termination, weed control, and more. You have to choose cover crops that are best for your operation, the weather, soil conditions and cash crops.
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Find Your Cover Crop ‘Coach’

By Sarah Hill posted on January 16, 2020
Farming is no different than sports, especially when implementing a new practice like cover planting crops. Out of the many growers I’ve talked to, those who have achieved success have a mentor, or multiple mentors to show them the ropes and get them moving in the right direction.
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Protect Precious Topsoil with Cover Crops

By Sarah Hill posted on December 17, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health
It’s not often that we think about what happens to the soil in the field. To be honest, that topsoil is probably the component that is most taken for granted in a cropping system of any kind. So, what happens when we lose any of that precious soil to wind or water erosion?
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A Lot at Stake with Cover Crop Adoption

By Sarah Hill posted on December 9, 2019
The state of Illinois recently released their biennial Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Report. The state has struggled with nutrient pollution in waterways and utilizing covers has been identified as a method for mitigating nutrient runoff. The problem lies in the rate of cover crop adoption. According to the report, it will be 200 years before Illinois will plant enough cover crops to make a significant reduction in nutrient runoff.
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Frost Your Fields with Cover Crops

By Sarah Hill posted on November 19, 2019
If you’re lucky enough to have completed harvest before snow fell on your fields — but haven’t planted a cover crop yet — not to worry. Planning ahead for a late winter or early spring frost seeding of covers might still be a viable alternative.
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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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Ray McCormick’s Conservation Buffer

Ray McCormick’s Conservation Buffer

Earlier this week we paid another visit to this year’s Conservation Ag Operator Fellow, Ray McCormick in Vincennes, Ind., and one thing about Ray is that even when it’s the “off season,” he’s still thinking ahead for next season.
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