As Corn Belt states seek ways to curb nitrogen flow from farms into the Gulf of Mexico, new University of Illinois research adds evidence for winter cover crops as an important part of the solution.
These grant programs are for farmers, ranchers, scientists, educators, institutions, organizations, and others exploring sustainable agriculture in 12 states.
For now, the agency is focused on double-crop soybeans and double-crop sorghum, though they are examining the possibility of additional other crops at some point in the future.
Grants have been awarded to the nonprofit groups American Farmland Trust, Ducks Unlimited, the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, Minnesota Soil Health Coalition and Practical Farmers of Iowa.
Wisconsin joined Illinois, Indiana and Iowa this month in offering a crop insurance discount for growers who plant cover crops. Meanwhile, restructuring to Illinois' conservation programs did not pass in Springfield.
The state of Illinois recently released their biennial Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Report. The state has struggled with nutrient pollution in waterways and utilizing covers has been identified as a method for mitigating nutrient runoff. The problem lies in the rate of cover crop adoption. According to the report, it will be 200 years before Illinois will plant enough cover crops to make a significant reduction in nutrient runoff.
Illinois is still two centuries away from hitting towards its goal of planting enough cover crops to make a significant dent in its nutrient pollution problem in waterways. That's according to a coalition of environmental groups responding to the state's recently-released biennial Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy report.
The National No-Tillage Conference returns January 7-10, 2025!Build and refine your no-till system with dozens of new ideas and connections at the 33rd Annual National No-Tillage Conference in Louisville, Ky. Jan. 7-10, 2025. Experience an energizing 4-day agenda featuring inspiring general session speakers, expert-led No-Till Classrooms and collaborative No-Till Roundtables. Plus, Certified Crop Adviser credits will be offered.
Mackane Vogel here at the Acres Eco-Ag Conference and Trade Show in Madison, Wis., and for this week’s segment we are going to toss it off to Gary Zimmer to talk a little bit about his cover crop strategies.