John Dobberstein

Swapping Fallow for Covers Boosts No-Till, Dryland Margins

John Heermann is using cover-crop mixes and a diverse, flexible crop rotation to eliminate summerfallow and improve the bottom line.

By John Dobberstein posted on October 26, 2015

A few years ago, John Heermann sat down to do his annual budgeting ahead of the next cropping season and sensed a problem was brewing.

From the Desk of John Dobberstein

Reasons to Revisit Cover Crops

By John Dobberstein posted on August 13, 2015 | Posted in Soil Health

It looks like the cover-crop movement continues to build steam in the U.S., as growers are seeding them to reduce erosion, fix or scavenge nutrients, improve soil biological activity and the like.

Cover Crops, Manure Key to Farm’s No-Till Evolution

Gordon and Jeff Smiley are finding quick success with a one-two nutrient punch from fall manure application and cover-crop cocktails.

By John Dobberstein posted on July 23, 2015 | Posted in Soil Health

Having no-tilled soybeans for many years, Gordon and Jeff Smiley faced a more difficult task 4 years ago, switching to no-tilled corn instead of holding on to their conventional system.

Faith in No-Till Brings Changes to Plains Farm

No-tiller Steve Pope is working with cover crops and interseeding on the family’s Oklahoma farm to improve crop diversity, reduce weed pressure and rebuild worn-out soils.

By John Dobberstein posted on June 11, 2015 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

About a decade ago, the Pope family in western Oklahoma reached a point where the equipment they used for conventional tillage was worn out.

Making Cover Crops Work in a Cooler No-Till Climate

Iowa no-tiller Roger Harrington has seen his share of challenges with covers, but has found a combination that saves soil, adds nitrogen and reduces erosion and weed pressure.

By John Dobberstein posted on May 18, 2015

Like many no-tillers, Roger Harrington likes seeding cover crops to improve organic matter, fix nitrogen (N) in the soil and reduce erosion, weed pressure and compaction.

8 Keys to Help No-Tillers Manage Annual Ryegrass

No-tillers just starting to use annual ryegrass should follow a few simple rules to take advantage of this cover crop’s compaction-busting, nitrogen-scavenging benefits.

By John Dobberstein posted on February 12, 2015 | Posted in Seeding Practices

With its prolific root system and economical price tag, annual ryegrass is one of the most popular cover crops no-tillers have at their disposal. It’s also gotten a bad rap for being tough to manage, says Dan Towery.

Clover, Cereal Rye Enhance No-Tiller’s 3-Year Rotation

Iowa no-tiller Joe Kriegel uses cereal rye and frost-seeded red clover in a rotation with corn and soybeans to reduce erosion, improve soil fertility and rescue heavily tilled fields.

By John Dobberstein posted on February 12, 2015 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Sometimes Joe Kriegel cringes when he drives past farms in his county and sees erodible hilltops that have been worked.

A Matter Of Perspective

By John Dobberstein posted on December 11, 2014 | Posted in Seeding Practices

As I've pointed out previously, there's a lot of conflicting research when it comes to the effects of cover crops in farm regions where annual moisture is limited, especially around the issue of water use by covers.

Cover Crops Key to Storing More Soil Organic Carbon

No-till practices alone may not sequester as much organic carbon in soil profiles as previously thought, but seeding cover crops could help rebuild it, says University of Illinois researcher Ken Olson.

By John Dobberstein posted on November 18, 2014 | Posted in Soil Health

Ken Olson doesn't dispute that no-till can sequester organic carbon in the soil, or provide numerous other benefits to farmers.

Sticking With No-Till, Covers Protects Yields And Waterways

Split nitrogen applications and cover crops are helping Iowa grower Ed Ulch improve his long-term no-till operation while enhancing the protection of local waterways.

By John Dobberstein posted on October 1, 2014

When Ed Ulch took the plunge with no-till during the 1970s, his main goals were economic: cut trips across the field, reduce expenses and hold the line on yields.