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Tom-Cotter

Getting Out of the Rut with No-Tilling, Cover Crop Interseeding, Weed Suppression

Tom Cotter is boosting the value of his soils in the heart of the Corn Belt by putting the iron away and keeping his fields covered and active year round.
By Angela Lovell posted on May 19, 2020 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut with farming, but that’s a major reason Tom Cotter did the opposite of that and turned to no-tilling and interseeding cover crops to rejuvenate his farm.
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Cover Crops an Important Soil Amendment

May 18, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health
Source: Organic Farmer
By definition, anything that was or is alive is considered organic matter because it contains carbon-based compounds. This article covers some of the considerations around using organic soil amendments. The most common types of soil organic amendments are manure, compost, and crop residue (including cover crops). Read more in this article from Organic Farmer.
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Corn Calamity

Combatting Compaction with Cover Crops

A relentless 75-acre compaction problem gave Brownsburg, Ind., farmer Mike Starkey perspective on the sustainable, cost-effective advantages of a no-till, cover crop system.
By James DeGraff posted on May 15, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health
During the summer of 2011, Brownsburg, Ind., corn, soybean and wheat no-tiller Mike Starkey agreed to host the John Deere Roll-Out new equipment event on his farm, leasing out a 75-acre corn plot at the entrance of his 2,600-acre operation.
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Soil Health Practices Show Economic, Ecological Benefits

May 13, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health
A group of California organic farmers is sharing information about their efforts to combine reduced tillage with the use of cover crops, which they have been planting on their vegetable farms for decades to protect soil while adding carbon and diversity to their production systems. "Every one of the pioneering farmers has seen tremendous benefits from the practices," said Jeff Mitchell, UC Cooperative Extension vegetable crops specialist.
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Cover Crops & Crop Insurance

May 13, 2020 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health
In this week’s podcast, crop insurance expert and Wisconsin farmer Ryan Stockwell with the National Wildlife Federation discusses why crop insurance regulations are outdated, why crop insurance eligibility rules are unfavorable to cover crops, how crop insurance will be evolving, and more.






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Brian-Gunderson

Getting Out of a No-Till Rut with Cover Crops

Seventh-generation farmer Brian Gunderson is finding a new gear for his no-till system with the benefits of cereal rye and other cover crops.
By Julia Gerlach posted on May 12, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health
Taking the "long view" of farming comes more naturally to some growers than it does for others. But for Brian Gunderson it may come more naturally because his farm in Waterford, Wis., has been in the family for 170 years.
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Soil Health Practices Help Farmers Save Money

May 11, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health
Source: Ag Alert
Farmers who have adopted healthy soil practices such as growing cover crops or adding compost say the techniques save money on production costs while enhancing crop yields. A farmland-conservation group says it hopes case studies documenting the benefits will encourage more farmers to use similar methods. Read more in this article from Ag Alert.
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It Always Comes Back to the Land

May 6, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health
Source: Rock Island Dispatch-Argus
Wayne Fredericks walks out into a cornfield on his northern Iowa farm and points out the first bits of spring growth of a cover crop shooting through the cornstalks. “We didn’t use cover crops years ago,” he says. “In fact, when I first started farming in 1973 … we didn’t treat the land very well.” Read more in this article from the Rock Island Dispatch Argus (Davenport, Iowa).
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The National No-Tillage Conference returns January 9-12, 2024! Build and refine your no-till system with dozens of new ideas and connections at the 32nd Annual National No-Tillage Conference in Indianapolis, Ind. Jan. 9-12, 2024. 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.

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New FAA Exemption: Efficiency Boost or Safety Hazard?

New FAA Exemption: Efficiency Boost or Safety Hazard?

The Federal Aviation Administration recently granted a regulation exemption that will allow 1 person to operate 3 drones in a swarm. While some see this as a big win from a productivity standpoint since it has the potential to make cover crop drone seeing more efficient, others see it as a massive safety concern.

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