Source: By Chad Lee, Carrie Knott, University of Kentucky Ag Extension
Cover crops can be excellent systems to capture excess nutrients and reduce the risk of erosion over the winter months. The most common cover crop used is wheat but other species are gaining popularity.
Your cover crop has protected the soil, contributed nutrients and helped enhance soil health. But it has to die for the following crop to reap the benefits.
No-tillers who use summer fallow in their rotations and are enrolled in crop insurance should exercise caution if they plan to seed or graze cover crops this year.
No-tillers who have avoided using cover crops in the past because of conflicts with insurance adjusters should find some new flexibility beginning this fall.
The NRCS released new guidelines on the termination of cover crops that could answer a few uncertainties on how covers should be managed in different climates in the U.S., but the RMA is still addressing questions about its policies with cover crops and eligibility for federal crop insurance.
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.
We are in Carroll, Ohio at Walnut Creek Seeds Farm, home of the legendary Dave Brandt and we are going to toss it off to our cover crop segment here with Dave Brandt’s grandson — Chris.