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.

There are ways to adapt for planting in fields with cover crops during this cool, wet spring.

An article from Iowa Soybean Assn. discusses Chad Ingels' experience planting soybeans into tall, green cover crops and the potential benefits of this practice on yields and herbicide costs for farmers who pursue the practice.