Fallow syndrome received its name from the dry plains states where fields routinely benefited from the additional moisture available after a year where the ground was fallowed. Corn sometimes had symptoms of phosphorus deficiency when corn was grown on this previously fallowed ground, thus it received its current name, “fallow syndrome”. Learn more in this article from South Dakota State University Extension.

After small grains, we typically try to get our cover crop mixes seeded by August 15. That date has blown by us and it is now mid-September with some wheat still being harvested. Find out more in this article by Abbey Wick, North Dakota State University Extension soil health specialist.

Without cover crops, harvesting soybeans usually means the soil surface in your field will be left exposed until the next crop is planted and established. This leads to loss of soil due to wind and runoff from rain and snowmelt. Find out more in this article from AgFax.

Cover crop acreage is expected to increase in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency's revision to the preventive-planting insurance provisions, according to North Dakota State University Extension livestock experts.

The Soil Health Institute and National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition have released a report serving as a comprehensive review of each new provision and its role in advancing soil health. The report also compares funding for soil health in the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills.

Cover crops expand forage options, but require management of potential nutritional and medical issues, according to Travis Meteer, University of Illinois Extension commercial agriculture beef educator. Find out more in this article from Farm Week Now.

Interest in cover crops has increased in recent times. The discussion has occurred even more in the 2019 growing season due to widespread row crop prevent acres in South Dakota. Following small grain harvest or on prevent acres, a wide range of cover crops species can be grown because there is ample amount of time is left in the season before hard freeze sets in. Find out more in this article from South Dakota State University Extension.

Due to an extremely wet spring and consistent moisture through the summer, grain harvests have slowed down a bit across South Dakota. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (as of Aug 18) only 76% of winter wheat harvest has been completed in the state well behind 95% of five-year average. Similarly, only 27% of spring wheat and 60% of oat are harvested, well behind 75% and 90% five-year average respectively. Read more in this article from Farm Forum.

In a tough year for farmers, North Dakota’s Dennis Haugen is a standout. And he may have climate change to thank for it. Haugen planted more radishes than ever this year on his Hannaford fields, he said by telephone. But not a single one will ever grace a dinner table. Instead, the radishes will remain as roots buried in the soil while Haugen harvests seeds from the delicate white flowers that grow above ground. Read more in this article from the Kenosha News.

The 2019 growing season has been challenging to say the least, especially when it came to planting and harvesting forages for winter feeding. The wet conditions didn’t allow for entry into fields on time or even for planting crops in some fields. But there are fall-forage options available to plant to extend winter and early-spring feed supply.