In 2022, Olmsted County commissioners Mark Thein and Gregg Wright approached staffers in the local soil and water conservation district office and asked a seemingly straightforward question: How can we keep nitrates out of the groundwater?
Rex Dufour introduces the different methods of terminating cover crops. He goes into detail about the equipment that is used and the benefits of each method. The video is part of NCAT's "Soil for Water: Cover Cropping in the Arid-West" series.
NCAT sustainable agriculture specialist, Rex Dufour, introduces reasons why adopting cover crops might be a good idea. He goes into detail about things to take into consideration before planting as well as the different groups and characteristics of cover crops.
Cover crops reduce nitrogen effluent in water and increase soil carbon over time, thereby providing environmental benefits, which may also translate into longer-term economic benefits. However, the costs associated with cover crops in the initial years usually exceed benefits accruing directly to farmers and landowners. Read more in this article from University of Illinois Extension.
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.
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.