With billions of taxpayer dollars in its hands for climate mitigation, USDA needs to prioritize efforts that are cost-effective, transparent, and science-based.
In its first year alone, 238 farmers enrolled, covering more than 78,000 acres, pushing the initiative closer to its goal of doubling cover crop adoption to 30 million acres across the U.S. by 2030.
Check out Black Eagle Ag’s new 40-foot, 16-row narrow transport strip-till bar, which was designed by a strip-tiller in Australia to be resilient in the toughest soil conditions.
Cover crops and other regenerative ag practices can reduce nitrate pollution in groundwater and rivers, resulting in healthier soil for future generations.
What started as two brothers taking over the family operation soon turned into starting a cover crop seed company, which impacts over one million acres of agricultural land annually.
In 2022, Olmsted County commissioners Mark Thein and Gregg Wright approached staffers in the local soil and water conservation district office and asked a seemingly straightforward question: How can we keep nitrates out of the groundwater?
In Purdue University's January 2024 Ag Economy Barometer Report, 8% of respondents said they have discussed carbon capture and carbon contracts with a company.
"The use of cover crops in modern Midwest corn-soybeans systems is in its infancy. However, strides are being made to make cover crops an economical part of agriculture."
Millions of potential cover crop acres that may help reduce farming’s greenhouse gas emissions could be lost under a plan to shift $19.5 billion in Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, funding from conservation programs to increasing price guarantees for farm subsidy programs.
A survey of farmers in four Northeast states, including New York, found that incentive payments encouraged participants to plant twice as many acres of cover crops as they did prior to receiving funds – a change that can both improve their farms and mitigate climate change.
The National No-Tillage Conference returns January 6-9, 2026!Build and refine your no-till system with dozens of new ideas and connections at the 34th Annual National No-Tillage Conference in St. Louis, Jan. 6-9, 2026. 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.
For this episode, we are going to Nelson, Missouri to visit with Alan Weber as he discusses his use of cereal rye and other cover crops on his farm. Weber runs a diversified crop and livestock operation and he’s found cereal rye especially useful in reducing pigweed and waterhemp pressure.