Earning the Right to Plant Cover Crops
Mackane Vogel here at the Acres Eco-Ag Conference and Trade Show in Madison, Wis., and for this week’s segment we are going to toss it off to Gary Zimmer to talk a little bit about his cover crop strategies.
Cover Crops, Manure Key to Farm’s No-Till Evolution
Gordon and Jeff Smiley are finding quick success with a one-two nutrient punch from fall manure application and cover-crop cocktails.
HEALTHY SOILS. Gordon Smiley (left) and his brother Jeff have no-tilled soybeans for 15 years, but only no-tilled corn starting in 2011. They’ve found that seeding cover crop cocktails in the fall — and following that with manure applications — feeds soil biological activity year round. “It’s been an evolution,” Gordon says. “We’re starting to feed the soil instead of feeding the plants, as they say.”
Having no-tilled soybeans for many years, Gordon and Jeff…
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.
Learn MoreTop Articles
Must Read Free Eguides
Download these helpful knowledge building tools
- How No-Till Improves Your Land Value
- Grazing for Soil Health and Getting Cover Crops Into the Mix
- Finding Your ‘ROI’ with Cover Crops in No-Till Systems
- Keep Covers in Your Rotation Without Breaking the Bank
Videos
