Improved soil health, reduction in chemical and fertilizer needs, field workability and yield are all points of discussion with cover crops. For some farmers in Iowa, cover crops have been adopted and thrive as a management practice. Other farmers still have questions about the overall benefits and risks surrounding the practice.

Farmers now have until March 15 to enroll in Farmers for Soil Health, a new cover crop cost share program that pays up to $50/acre over three years for new cover crop acres. Farmers who have planted cover crops previously are eligible for $2/acre.

Three Iowa ag partners are leading a statewide effort to increase the adoption of cover crops, an erosion-prevention and water quality practice, as part of a national program called Farmers for Soil Health.

In this video from the Iowa Soybean Association, Teresa Middleton discusses when to terminate cover crops, the benefits of cover crops, achieving substantial amounts of biomass, and more.

Healthy soil is essential to agriculture, but it can be tricky to adequately assess soil health test results, which are influenced by biology, chemistry, fertility, time of sampling, timing of farming and other variables. That’s why the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is developing a user-friendly, online tool to help farmers and agronomists easily interpret their soil health test results and convert them into an action plan. Read more in this article from the Iowa Soybean Association.

Cover crops have proven benefits for soil health. A recent Iowa Soybean Association study shows that cover crops can also reduce the input costs associated with growing crops. Read more in this article from the Environmental Defense Fund.

While many farmers add cover crops with the goal to improve soil health, some participants in an Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) study are turning cover crops into new business opportunities. Capturing profit opportunities could result in expanded cover crop use in the state, the study showed. Read more in this article from the Iowa Soybean Association.