Iowa state university - Articles

Cover Crops Can Help Operations Sequester Carbon, Prepare for Extreme Weather

By Sarah Hill posted on December 16, 2021

Farmers are becoming more open to acknowledging that carbon emissions and climate change are becoming a problem, according to Iowa State University researcher J. Arbuckle. And it’s a good thing they’re willing to talk about it, as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that without cutting carbon emissions, growers will face increasing weather challenges, including severe storms, droughts, floods and pest migrations — problems that could be a major hit to the bottom line.

[Podcast] Greater Cover Crop Growth Means Less Nitrate Leaching

This week’s podcast, sponsored by GS3 Quality Seed, features Matt Helmers, Director, Iowa Nutrient Research Center, Iowa State University. Helmers will discuss how planting covers after applying manure affects nitrate concentrations, how the timing of cover crop planting affects nitrate concentrations, how cover crops help nitrogen in the soil, and more.

August 12, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

This week’s podcast, sponsored by GS3 Quality Seed, features Matt Helmers, Director, Iowa Nutrient Research Center, Iowa State University. Helmers will discuss how planting covers after applying manure affects nitrate concentrations, how the timing of cover crop planting affects nitrate concentrations, how cover crops help nitrogen in the soil, and more.

Cover Crops Offset Risk Improving Bottom Line

July 23, 2021 | Posted in Economics

Source: Waukon Standard

Producers should seek to protect themselves from market volatility by finding innovative practices that add to their bottom line. Cover crops might be the answer. Read more in this article from the Waukon Standard (Waukon, Iowa).

[Podcast] Apply Manure to Covers in the Fall or Spring

This week’s podcast, sponsored by GS3 Quality Seed, features Brian Dougherty, Iowa State University Extension Field Agricultural Engineer. Dougherty will discuss ideal timing for applying manure to cover crops, how cash crop and cover crop yields are affected by manure application, how manure application affects water quality, and more.

July 12, 2021 | Posted in Seeding Practices

This week’s podcast, sponsored by GS3 Quality Seed, features Brian Dougherty, Iowa State University Extension Field Agricultural Engineer. Dougherty will discuss ideal timing for applying manure to cover crops, how cash crop and cover crop yields are affected by manure application, how manure application affects water quality, and more.

[Video] Planter Setup for Better Downforce Performance

April 1, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Levi Powell with Iowa State University walks you through how to best calculate and set downforce pressure on your planter and how downforce can improve planting.

Research Confirms the Soil Health Benefits of Cover Crops

By Sarah Hill posted on September 2, 2020

Without the soil, no farming would exist. Growers should be fixated with maximizing every inch of soil and improving the various factors that impact soil health.

Soil: Water Reservoir for Crop Production

August 24, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Ohio's Country Journal

Dr. Elwyn Taylor, Iowa State University climatologist reported that 200-bushel corn needs 19 to 23 inches of water during the growing season. For 200-bushel corn at 75 degree F (soil temperature), corn needs 1-acre inch of water per week, doubling to 2 inches at 85 degrees F, and doubling again to 4 inches at 95 degrees F. Read more in this article from Ohio's Country Journal.

[Video] The Other Soil Carbon

July 8, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health

Soil is an organic reservoir for carbon, but carbon is subject to loss, according to Mark Rasmussen, Director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture with Iowa State University. Decades of conventional farming have depleted soil carbon levels. In this video, Rasmussen discusses the many forms of carbonate, what Iceland is doing to store carbon long-term in the soil, and more.

Dig Into Soil Organic Matter

July 3, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Lincoln Journal Star

Steven Hall is dedicated to exploring how farmers can get the most out of their soil. Hall, an assistant professor with the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology at Iowa State University, runs a biogeochemistry lab where students look at the different factors that can effect soil health. Read more in this article from the Lincoln Journal Star.

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

December 13, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Iowa State Daily

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.