management strategies

FBN's Sustainability Programs Provide Cover Crop & No-Till Incentive Payments

September 12, 2023 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

In this video, Brant Caley, sustainability operations manager with Farmers Business Network (FBN), explains the company’s sustainability offerings and does a walkthrough of their latest online tools that aim to help farmers get paid for planting cover crops, no-tilling and other sustainable farm practices.

5 Reasons You Should Plan 12 Months in Advance for Cover Crops

August 10, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Preparation is important to succeeding with cover crop management and there are several areas of decision making that can have a significant impact, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff.

Untreated Cover Crop Seed Can Reduce Pest Pressure

August 9, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Many growers use treated cover crop seed to kill pests, but Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff says there are valid reasons to consider planting untreated cover crop seed. In this week’s podcast, Groff discusses the side effects of using treated cover crop seed, how treated cover crop seed affects predatory insects, how untreated cover crop seed can help manage slugs, and more.

Get Increased Wheat Yields by Adding Cover Crops

August 9, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Cover crops that winterkill are an excellent choice to plant with wheat, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff. In this week’s podcast, find out how growing radishes with wheat can boost wheat yields by an average of 3-5 bushels per acre.

How to Get the Ideal Cover Crop Seeding Rate

August 9, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

When you plant cover crops, of course, you want to maximize their benefits as much as possible while minimizing the costs, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff. This podcast shares 5 things that can help growers achieve the ideal cover crop seeding rate, including checking the cover crop seed tag for germination rate, date the seed was tested, and more.

Cover Crop Lessons Learned In France

August 9, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff shares his insights from visiting France and what American growers can learn from what is being done overseas. French growers are dealing with a ban on glyphosate, the impacts of organic agriculture, farming on steep slopes and more.

How To Grow Your Own Cover Crop Seed – Legally!

August 9, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Have you ever considered growing your own cover crop seed? It can be done—and in ways that will not get you into legal trouble. There is a gauntlet of rules and regulations around growing your own seed, and this podcast provides tips on how to follow those rules. Steve Groff, cover crop expert from Pennsylvania, discusses the differences in growing cover crop seed for your own use versus growing cover crop seed to resell, knowing the difference between a brand and variety, how to assign lot numbers, and more.

Tips for Using Cover Crops in a Tillage System

August 9, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

It's a bit more challenging to fit cover crops into a tillage system, but there are opportunities if you create them, says Steve Groff. The Cover Crop Coach and Holtwood, Pa., grower will share different ways row crop farmers and even vegetable farmers in the U.S. and overseas are getting cover crops seeded into tilled fields to control erosion and replenish soils.

Using Cover Crops With Organic Row Crops

August 9, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

More growers are increasingly becoming interested in raising organic crops. While food-grade organic crops merit a larger return on investment, they also require a high level of quality and present unique challenges in marketing those crops.

Strategic Strip-Tilling with Cover Crops

August 9, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Strip tilling with cover crops is taking off in many regions of the U.S. and is relatively inexpensive. Seeding cover crops can occur during fall strip-tilling but comes with its own challenges in the spring. Pennsylvania grower Steve Groff shares insights on adapting equipment to get strip-tilling results, tips for ideal strip-till management and ideal row spacings.