Mackane Vogel

Top 5 Cover Crop Innovations from 2023 Farm Progress Show

By Mackane Vogel posted on August 31, 2023 | Posted in Product Innovations & Introductions

Our editors made the trip to Decatur, Ill., for the 2023 Farm Progress Show to get the latest info on all the newest cutting-edge technology and cover crop advancements. Check out our top picks.

Cover Crop Connection

Examining the Properties of Buckwheat as an Alternative Cover Crop

By Mackane Vogel posted on August 18, 2023

Last week I attended a field day hosted by the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in East Troy, Wisconsin. I had the opportunity to learn from one of their research agronomists, Esther Durairaj, who told us about her research trials looking into alternative cover crops, including buckwheat.

Cover Crop Connection

Assistance with Adopting Regenerative Ag Practices

By Mackane Vogel posted on August 4, 2023

On the most recent episode of the Cover Crop Strategies Podcast, I spoke with Zach Larson and Tyler Williams, 2 sustainable systems agronomists with Bayer. You can see Larson and other Bayer agronomists here, working out in the field, which is part of the support that comes with Bayer’s ForGround program.

Soil Health

Dave Brandt’s 5 Tips for Experienced Cover Croppers

Cover crop expert discusses his best practices for getting the most out of cover crops.

By Mackane Vogel posted on June 1, 2023 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Grazing, Soil Health, Economics, Termination

Being successful with cover crops on your farm operation involves a lot of attention to detail and decision making.

Soil Health

Raising Cattle to Feed Grain

Cover crop rotation paired with grazing system completes no-tiller’s holy grail of soil health.

By Mackane Vogel posted on June 1, 2023 | Posted in Grazing, Soil Health

Jeff Gaska’s first time experimenting with cover crops came when he decided to frost seed clover into winter wheat.

Remembering Dave Brandt

By Mackane Vogel posted on May 22, 2023

No-Till Legend Dave Brandt of Carroll, Ohio, died unexpectedly over the weekend as a result of injuries from a severe car crash. In honor of the late no-till and cover crop legend, we have compiled a list of videos, podcasts and articles that have been featured on the Cover Crop Strategies website over the last 15 years that feature Dave Brandt and help to illustrate the enormous impact he had on the regenerative farming community and beyond.

5 Tips & Strategies for Managing Cover Crops in Spring

With spring just around the corner, check out 5 tips and strategies for spring cover crop management from experienced cover croppers.

By Mackane Vogel posted on March 20, 2023 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Grazing, Soil Health, Termination

With spring just around the corner, check out 5 tips and strategies for spring cover crop management from experienced cover croppers.

Wayne Fredericks Better-protected-Soil.jpeg

How One Iowa Farmer Reduced His Fertilizer Usage by 30%

Fredericks, who farms just 15 miles south of the Minnesota state line in a very cold climate, points out that what worked for him might not be the best for every single farmer.

By Mackane Vogel posted on November 21, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health, Economics

Wayne Fredericks, a corn and soybean farmer from Osage, Iowa, has been no-tilling soybeans since 1991 and strip-tilling corn since 2001. But ever since he tried using cover crops in 2012, he has been able to reduce his use of fertilizer by 30%.