Researchers’ trials have shown that combining cover crops with no-till creates soil health benefits exceeding those created by no-till alone. The two practices combined with applications of manure create the greatest soil health benefits.
They say history repeats itself—it sure seems that way when it comes to the end of the year and global temperature records. But cover crops and no-till could be part of the solution.
No matter how tuned in or out of farming standards you might be, chances are you are aware that some foods are deemed "healthier" because of how they were raised. One example of this is organic farming, which includes everything from produce to coffee to wine. But what if there was another type of farming, an alternative to traditional and organic farming, that promised even more? This is where regenerative farming comes into play.
As we have said so often—production agriculture and environmental protection really can go hand in hand. If we take care of the worms, (and with them the rest of the microbial community) they really can help save the day.
Doug Bos is Assistant Director of Rock County Soil and Water Conservation District, where he has worked for 27 years. When he talks about cover crops, he is not only talking of programs, he is speaking of personal experience.
The recently launched No-Till Farmer email discussion group gives people in the no-till community an easy way to connect with each other and exchange ideas with other no-tillers across the country. Check out one of the recent discussion topics on cover crops below and click HERE to sign up and join the conversation.
Cover Crop Strategies editors encounter a variety of articles, social media posts, podcasts and videos that offer a unique look at various aspects of our great agricultural industry. Here is our favorite content from the past week. The Best of the Web This Week series is brought to you by Salford Group.
In this video, Indiana farmer Rick Clark discusses challenges and successes of regenerating soil on 7,000 acres. He'll explain why you have to be ready to change at a moment's notice, challenges he's had with using cover crops over the past 12 years, and how he implements a 6 crop system.
The National Strip-Tillage Conference returns August 8-9, 2024!Build and refine your strip-till system with dozens of new ideas and connections at the 11th Annual National Strip-Tillage Conference in Madison, Wis. Aug. 8-9, 2024. Experience an energizing 2-day agenda featuring inspiring general session speakers, expert-led Strip-Till Classrooms and collaborative Strip-Till Roundtables. Plus, Certified Crop Adviser credits will be offered.
Georgetown, Del., no-tiller Jay Baxter was planning on conducting a cover crop experiment with oats, but when Mother Nature got in the way, he quickly pivoted to another idea for a different type of cover crop experiment.