USDA

Multi-Year Cover Crop Project Aims to Quantify Changes in Soil Health

By Anthony Martin posted on March 25, 2024 | Posted in Soil Health

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.

News Release

Cover Crops to Surge Under USDA's Green Initiative

March 7, 2024 | Posted in Investing in Regenerative Ag

Source: Farms.com

Based on a recent survey, ASTA predicts that the USDA's Partnerships for Climate Smart-Commodities will lead to an increase of 10.5 million acres in cover crop planting over five years.

Can Taller Cover Crops Lead to Cleaner Water?

By Brian Devore posted on March 4, 2024 | Posted in Soil Health, Investing in Regenerative Ag, Economics, Termination

Source: Civil Eats

In 2022, Olmsted County commissioners Mark Thein and Gregg Wright approached staffers in the local soil and water conservation district office and asked a seemingly straightforward question: How can we keep nitrates out of the groundwater?

News Release

Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities to Result in 10.5 Million New Cover Crop Acres

February 29, 2024 | Posted in Investing in Regenerative Ag

A recent survey by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) found that an added 10.5 million acres of cover crops will be planted in the next five years as a result of USDA’s Partnerships for Climate Smart-Commodities projects.

USDA's New Climate Program Needs to Focus on Cover Crops & No-Till

By Randall Reeder posted on February 21, 2024 | Posted in Soil Health, Investing in Regenerative Ag

The USDA announced a new program to hire 100 young people as a “Climate Corps” for Agriculture.

What the USDA's Ag Census Says About Cover Crops

February 14, 2024

The response rate for the 2022 Census of Agriculture was 61%; more than 40% of responses were submitted online.

Former Iowa Ag Secretary, USDA Leader Bill Northey Dies

By Spencer Chase posted on February 6, 2024

Source: Agri-Pulse

Former Iowa Ag Secretary and Trump administration USDA leader Bill Northey has died, leaving behind numerous family and friends, and a legacy of farm policy leadership. He was 64.

Technology Helps Cover Cropper Implement Conservation Practices

January 15, 2024 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Product Innovations & Introductions

Source: Iowa Farmer Today

Mark Kingland, who farms nearly 1,800 acres throughout Winnebago County, Iowa, with his brother, Tom, seeded several hundred cover crop acres for the first time in fall 2023 and used his new drone to broadcast the seed.

Wisconsin Growers See Benefits of Cover Crops Year After Year

By Gloria Hafemeister posted on January 4, 2024 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Wisconsin State Farmer

While cover crops and no-till have been buzzwords in agriculture the last few years, these practices have been common on some farms for decades and these farmers are seeing the obvious benefits now.

[Podcast] 4 Alternative Cover Crops to Try on Your Farm with Rob Myers

In this episode of the Cover Crop Strategies podcast, brought to you by SOURCE® from Sound Agriculture, listen to Rob Myers, director of the Center for Regenerative Agriculture at the University of Missouri, as he discusses 4 alternative cover crops.

October 27, 2023 | Posted in Seeding Practices

In this episode of the Cover Crop Strategies podcast, brought to you by SOURCE® from Sound Agriculture, listen to Gary Zimmer giving a presentation at his farm in Spring Green, Wis.