Soil health

[Video] Long-Term Cover Crop Impacts on Soil Health & Tomatoes

February 18, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Jessica Awrey, a student at the University of Guelph, shares insights learned from research into cover crops in grain and vegetable crop rotations. During the research, covers such as cereal rye, radish, and oats were included and terminated with glyphosate. Awrey's research looked specifically at tomatoes grown as a vegetable crop as part of this rotation - with some interesting findings.

[Video] Soil Health & Profitability from Covers

February 15, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Laura Van Erd from the University of Guelph discusses insights from her research on an 8 year cover crop rotation, including ways to incentivize cover crop adoption, how using cover crops resulted in higher soil carbon levels, which cover crop species resulted in lower soil carbon levels, and more.

[Video] Soil Sustains Everything - Including Us

February 15, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Maintaining soil health is so much more important than reducing erosion. In this video, discover everything the soil does, without any guidance from people, and the role soil microbes play in all of those processes.

2021 National Cover Crop Summit

Announcing Third Annual National Cover Crop Summit Speakers

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about cover crop establishment, using covers as forage for livestock, how high residue cover crops can reverse soil issues like compaction, and more during the virtual summit, to be held March 17-18, 2021.

February 2, 2021

This free, two-day virtual event is the third annual National Cover Crop Summit, and promises to be the best one yet, with an outstanding speaker line up and intriguing topics.

Variety of Cover Crop Options Helps Producers Better Manage Soil Health

February 1, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Farm Focus

Dr. Judith Nyiraneza, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) based in Charlottetown, P.E.I., and Oyster Cove Farms of Hamilton, P.E.I., recently completed a two-year study that tested the performance of cover crops planted following the potato harvest. Read more in this article from Farm Focus.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Efficiency, Improved Soil Health Linked

January 29, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Ohio's Country Journal

Most farmers value soil health in theory, but few studies have worked to place an actual agronomic value on soil health. A study found that a 10% improvement in certain soil health measurements increased relative yields by an average of 5% across N fertilizer rates. Read more in this article from Ohio's Country Journal.

[Video] Revitalizing Soil Health with Cover Crops

January 27, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Aaron Lehman, a fifth-generation Iowa farmer, started planting cover crops a little over a 12 years ago—and hasn’t looked back. Cover crops have helped Lehman improve soil health through increased soil organic matter as he transitioned to organic farming.

Barriers to Cover Crop Use

January 27, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Lancaster Farming

Cover crop acreage has increased significantly around the nation, and in some areas over 70% of farmland is “green” going into winter. The Mid-Atlantic region is leading the charge. Read more in this article from Lancaster Farming.

Farmers Have Questions About Carbon Markets

January 22, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Indianapolis Star

Rick Clark was out working the field on his farm near Williamsport, Ind. one day, 16 years ago. Then a one-inch rain rolled in.?He didn’t think anything of it at the time, he said. Read more in this article from the Indianapolis Star.

Ag Management Practices Need to Change for Soil Health

January 20, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Ohio's Country Journal

As more is learned about the complexities of the soils serving as the basis for our civilization, it is becoming apparent to many that agricultural management practices need to change. Les Siler, a farmer from Fulton County, said farmers need to be intentional to improve the quality and health of their soil. Read more in this article from Ohio's Country Journal.