water infiltration

Which Cover Crop Species are Best Suited for Your Farm Goals?

By Raylene Nickel posted on May 10, 2024 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health, Termination

Researchers’ trials have shown that combining cover crops with no-till creates soil health benefits exceeding those created by no-till alone. The two practices combined with applications of manure create the greatest soil health benefits.

W-01471-02-Watersheds-Field-Runoff-Map-Water-Conservation-Soil-Health-No-Till-Cover-Crops.jpg

A Tale of Two Watersheds: Cover Crops vs. No Cover Crops

August 16, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: South Dakota State Extension

See the impact that cover crops and a no-till cropping system had on watersheds after high winds and heavy rains rolled through the Great Plains. The difference in the amounts of run-off water is astounding.

[Podcast] Breaking Down the Benefits of Cover Crops with Ohio No-Tiller Dusty Sonnenberg

July 6, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

In this edition of the Cover Crop Strategies podcast, brought to you by Verdesian Life Sciences, we catch up with Dusty Sonnenberg, owner and operator of Sonnenberg Farms and Jay Calf Ranch in Henry County.

K-State Pumpkin Study Shows Cover Crop Benefits For Horticulture

By Brian O'Connor posted on April 12, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices

The study looked a pumpkin plots in Kansas, where the Halloween staple is frequently grown in rotation following soybeans, and are a staple of agritourism, according to the study published in the Soil Science Society of America Journal.

Cover Crops Improve Water Infiltration in Soil

October 28, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: The Fence Post

Nebraska’s Andrea Basche and a colleague have found that planting perennials and cover crops may substantially improve the ability of soils to soak up heavy rainfall, potentially alleviating the most severe effects of flooding and drought. A synthesis of 89 studies across six continents has helped clarify which agricultural practices hold water when it comes to helping soils soak up precipitation — a factor critical to mitigating floods, outlasting drought and stabilizing crop yields. Read more in this story from The Fence Post.

[Video] Gabe Brown—SARE National Conference on Cover Crops & Soil Health

November 13, 2017 | Posted in Soil Health

Gabe Brown is a no-till farmer from North Dakota who in the past 20 years has seen his soil organic matter increase from 1.9 to 6.1% and water infiltration rise from 0.5 inches per hour to 8 inches.

100% Cover Cropping Brings New Benefits to No-Till Farm

May 6, 2016 | Posted in Termination

Eric Eberhard of Eberhard Farms in Bellevue, Ohio, talks about the cover-crop program they’ve implemented on 100% of their no-till farm. He explains why they prefer to use Austrian winter peas before corn, the benefits of ‘planting green’ and terminating the cover later, and the changes they’ve seen in terms of water infiltration, yield and earthworm populations.

From the Desk of John Dobberstein

More Than What Meets the Eye

By John Dobberstein posted on November 11, 2015 | Posted in Grazing, Soil Health

Cover crop adoption has been a little slower in parts of the Great Plains, possibly more over fear of the unknown than actual poor outcomes seen by growers. But researchers reviewing decades of cover-crop studies say there are plenty of benefits to covers, whether you farm in the warm southern Plains or cooler prairies of western Canada.

No-Till and Cover Crops Show Promise for Wyoming Farm

Farming in a semi-desert, Richard and Garrett Klein hope more living roots and less tillage will reduce irrigation needs and improve compacted, light soils.

By Loretta Sorensen posted on July 8, 2015

It's only been 2 years since first-generation Wyoming farmer Richard Klein and his son, Garrett, stepped into the no-till arena. While they're not ready to confirm any major soil or crop improvements as a result, they like the way no-till and cover crops are impacting their soils.