Cover crops - Articles

Iowa Study Finds Cover Crops Don't Impact Carbon Absorption in Soil

December 13, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

A recent study found cover crops do not have a significant effect on soil’s ability to absorb and store carbon. The scientists conducted the study to discover whether or not cover crops actually improved the soil’s capacity to contain and store away carbon and to research further into the effect of cover crops and perennial plants on the microbial activity of surrounding crops.

[Podcast] Think Outside the Grain Bin with Small Grains as a Cover Crop

Farmers should not limit themselves to only growing corn and soybeans and should consider using small grains as a cover crop, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff.

December 11, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices

In this podcast, Groff explains the benefits of adding small grains to crop rotations, such as building soil biology, adding diversity, increasing organic matter and more. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Iowa Farmers Need to "Urgently" Adopt Cover Crops

December 11, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Des Moines Register

Al Schafbuch said Iowa farmers are moving too slowly in adopting conservation practices that would help improve the quality of the state's rivers, streams and lakes. With only about 7% of Iowa farmland planted in cover crops, "it will take 100 years to get this done," Schafbuch said. "We can't wait 100 years."

Shifting Ideas on Cover Crops in Western Canada

December 11, 2019 | Posted in Economics

Source: Country Guide

When Yvonne Lawley wrote her research proposal for a study of cover crops, she was specific about the wording of the title: Testing the cover crop hypothesis across Prairie Canada. It’s the word “hypothesis” that grabs you. What could be theoretical about cover crops? Some farmers have been using them for decades to help build soil, reduce erosion, graze animals and more. The practice is common in Ontario and Quebec, as well as in the Northern Great Plains region of the U.S. What’s not to know?

USDA, North Carolina State Launching Nationwide Cover Crop Research

December 11, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Source: KMA Radio

Increasing adoption of cover crops and improving agricultural sustainability are goals of a nationwide research project. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently awarded a five-year $10 million grant to North Carolina State University and the USDA Agricultural Research Service to lead the effort.

[Video] Cover Crops After Corn Silage

December 10, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

In this video, find out what to look for when conducting evaluations in the field to compare soil that has a cover crop to soil without covers, including soil architecture and earthworm populations. Also, learn how to conduct a simple soil "pop" test.

A Lot at Stake with Cover Crop Adoption

By Sarah Hill posted on December 9, 2019

The state of Illinois recently released their biennial Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Report. The state has struggled with nutrient pollution in waterways and utilizing covers has been identified as a method for mitigating nutrient runoff. The problem lies in the rate of cover crop adoption. According to the report, it will be 200 years before Illinois will plant enough cover crops to make a significant reduction in nutrient runoff.

Illinois Will Reach Cover Crop Goal in 200 Years

December 9, 2019 | Posted in Economics

Source: WGLT

Illinois is still two centuries away from hitting towards its goal of planting enough cover crops to make a significant dent in its nutrient pollution problem in waterways. That's according to a coalition of environmental groups responding to the state's recently-released biennial Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy report.

Planting Cover Crops in December — Are You Crazy?

December 4, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

While the idea might seem a little ‘out there’ in a typical year, 2019 was not a typical year in many states, with weather challenges causing planting, field work and harvesting delays. Cover Crop Coach Steve Groff says there are more opportunities than you think for getting something done in December. Groff will discuss which cover crops can be planted in December with a high degree of success and how growers can use slightly frozen ground to their advantage.

Making Cover Crops Work in Area with Less Than 20 Inch Rainfall Part 1

November 26, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

While cover crops are being utilized across the U.S., in all 50 states, adoption has lagged behind a bit in semi-arid climates due to concerns about soil moisture being depleted.