Usda

White Clover an Important Pasture Legume

October 9, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Four-leaved clovers may or may not bring good luck. What’s indisputable is that all white clovers, whether with three or four leaves, have many benefits. USDA calls white clover “one of the most important pasture legumes.” In New Zealand, it is one of the main species, along with ryegrass, grown in pastures.

Time Running Out to Use Cover Crops on Prevent Plant Acres

October 2, 2019 | Posted in Grazing

Source: Winchester, Indiana News Gazette

The announcement by the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), enables farmers who plant cover crops on prevented plant acres to hay, graze, ensile, or chop those fields earlier than November 1. For 2019, RMA will allow farmers to make forage on prevent plant acres after Sept. 1. Find out more in this article from the News Gazette (Winchester, Indiana).

Partnership on Ground Floor of Cover Crop Trials

July 31, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: AgriNews

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s planted acreage report indicated nationwide 15.3 million intended corn acres and 33 million intended soybean acres remained unplanted through the first two weeks of June, according to this article from AgriNews.

Cover Crops Eligible for USDA FSA Market Facilitation Program Payments

July 25, 2019 | Posted in Economics

USDA officials held a conference call on July 25 announcing further details of the $16 billion package to support American farmers. One of the highlights was new information on the Market Facilitation Program (MFP).

Organic Producers are Avid Users of Cover Crops, Rotational Grazing

July 5, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: USDA press release

A USDA press release shares how practices associated with soil health—including the use of cover crops and rotational grazing—are more widely used in organic farming systems than in conventional systems.

USDA Adds Flexibility for Cover Crop Management in Crop Year 2020

June 28, 2019 | Posted in Termination

Source: USDA press release

A press release from USDA explains how the 2018 Farm Bill mandated changes to the treatment of cover crops, including adding more flexibility to when cover crops must be terminated while remaining eligible for crop insurance.

USDA-RMA Announces Change to Haying and Grazing Date for Prevent Plant Acres in 2019

June 21, 2019 | Posted in Grazing

Source: USDA Risk Management Agency

Farmers who planted cover crops on prevented plant acres will be permitted to hay, graze or chop those fields earlier than November this year, the USDA announced.

USDA Exploring MFP Payments for Cover Crop Forages on Prevent-Plant Acres

By John Dobberstein posted on June 11, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices

In light of widespread prevented planting, USDA is mulling Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments for struggling producers who plant an MFP-eligible cover crop that has the potential to be harvested and used as forage, says Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.

Census of Agriculture 2017

Census of Ag: Cover Crop Acres in U.S. Growing 8% Per Year

April 16, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices

A preliminary analysis of data released from the 2017 Census of Agriculture shows cover crop acreage in the U.S. has grown by more than 8% per year since 2012 and major Corn Belt states such as Iowa, Illinois and Missouri appear to be leading the charge, according to an analysis by Rob Myers, regional director of extension programs for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE). In terms of growth rates, Iowa’s 156% increase in cover crop acres led the nation, with 973,112 acres seeded in 2017 vs. 379,614 in 2012, Illinois, Ohio, Nebraska and Missouri also led the way with increases of 100% or more, Myers says.

Free eGuide

Grazing for Soil Health and Getting Cover Crops Into the Mix

| Posted in Grazing, Soil Health

You can increase the health of your soil and cattle by implementing these practices backed by research and experience. Best of all this wealth of knowledge is yours to download FREE!