Sarah Hill

Hold on to Valuable Topsoil with Cover Crops

By Sarah Hill posted on August 11, 2021

According to a new study published by scientists at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, more than a third of farmland in the U.S. Corn Belt has completely lost its carbon-rich topsoil to erosion.

Cattle Like Grazing on Diverse Cover Crop Mixes

The combination of a 3-way crop rotation, covers and grazing is resulting in big savings by reducing the number of tillage passes, increasing yields and improving soil health.

By Sarah Hill posted on July 24, 2021 | Posted in Grazing

In farming, it’s the little things that will get you — or the little things can add up to more profits if they’re done right.

Cover Crops Can Turn Around Soil Degradation

When used in combination with reduced tillage and diverse crop rotations, covers can restore farm soils to a more healthy and productive state.

By Sarah Hill posted on July 23, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Problems with soil degradation impacting agriculture go all the way back to ancient Greece. Many of today’s growers have the same problems, but they are now armed with the knowledge and tools needed to reverse the trend, says David Montgomery, author, geologist and professor of Earth & Space Sciences at the University of Washington.

Reducing Inputs by Grazing Cover Crops

Extending the grazing season by grazing annuals in the fall or late summer allows perennial pastures to rest longer, says NRCS state agronomist.

By Sarah Hill posted on July 22, 2021 | Posted in Grazing

Using cover crops as forages can offer an economical, alternative feed source to growers who have livestock.

Applying Manure with a Dragline Helps with Cover Crop Termination

No-tillers from Perrysville, Ohio, utilize manure from their 650-cow dairy to maintain high-yielding double crops, and feed for their herd.

By Sarah Hill posted on July 21, 2021 | Posted in Termination

A lot can change in 30 years. In the early 1990s, Perrysville, Ohio, brothers Steve and Carl Ayers were adopting no-till and cover crops on 700 acres of continuous corn on their 650-cow dairy operation, creating a standard for other growers in the area to emulate.

Covering Cover Crops

Keys to Making Progress with Cover Crop Adoption

By Sarah Hill posted on July 21, 2021

Conservation agriculture. Regenerative agriculture. Sustainable agriculture. Resilient agriculture. Climate smart farming.
It doesn’t matter what you call it, cover crops are a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to building soil health and environmental stewardship.

Cover Crops Lower Production Costs in Cotton

By Sarah Hill posted on July 19, 2021

A 2-year study at the University of Western Sao Paulo and Sao Paulo State University in Brazil found applying potassium (K) to a grass cover crop grown before cotton in sandy soil lowered production costs and resulted in cotton with a higher market value, according to an article on Science X news website.

Regenerative Ag Goes Mainstream & Cover Crops Are Playing a Part

By Sarah Hill posted on July 7, 2021

The regenerative agriculture movement, including cover crops, has officially reached into the mainstream. Fashion brands such as Wrangler, Patagonia, and even Gucci are partnering with cotton farms that focus on soil health and carbon sequestration through using covers.

8 Out of 10 Farmers Use Herbicide to Kill Covers

Herbicides were used by 79% of growers as the preferred termination method, followed by winterkill and roller-crimping.

By Sarah Hill posted on July 1, 2021

An important aspect of raising cover crops is terminating them. Growers have options when it comes to terminating covers, and factors such as cost, location, and weather come into play as well.

Cover Crop Interseeding Increasing Amongst Growers

The practice was up 20 percentage points over the findings of the 2020 Cover Crop Benchmark Study.

By Sarah Hill posted on June 24, 2021

Roughly one-third of growers participating in the 2021 Cover Crop Strategies Cover Crop Benchmark Study are using the practice, compared to 13.5% in the 2020 study.

Articles by Sarah Hill

Hold on to Valuable Topsoil with Cover Crops

Cattle Like Grazing on Diverse Cover Crop Mixes

Cover Crops Can Turn Around Soil Degradation

Reducing Inputs by Grazing Cover Crops

Applying Manure with a Dragline Helps with Cover Crop Termination

Keys to Making Progress with Cover Crop Adoption

Cover Crops Lower Production Costs in Cotton

Regenerative Ag Goes Mainstream & Cover Crops Are Playing a Part

8 Out of 10 Farmers Use Herbicide to Kill Covers

Cover Crop Interseeding Increasing Amongst Growers

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