planting

Cover Crops Build Soil Health, Control Weeds, Feed Livestock

By Jamie Henneman posted on July 17, 2024 | Posted in Seeding Practices

In early July, when conventional farms are still using chemical herbicides to try and keep weeds out of their fallow fields, organic farmer John Wicks is using a different approach.

Cover Crops After Harvest Optimal for Forage

By Sandy Johnson, Augustine Obour, John Holman, and Logan Simon posted on July 15, 2024 | Posted in Grazing

Source: Kansas State University

The time following wheat harvest presents a great opportunity to incorporate cover crops.

[Podcast] ISA President Enjoying Benefits From Covers in Eastern Iowa

April 20, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health, Termination

On this episode of the Cover Crop Strategies podcast, brought to you by La Crosse Seed, we’re headed to Davenport, IA to catch up with Robb Ewoldt, who’s the president of the Iowa Soybean Association. Ewoldt fills us in how the prestigious role is allowing him to make an impact not just in Iowa, but all over the globe.

Planting Progress Report Shows Soybean Planting Underway

April 18, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Texas and Louisiana led the way among corn and soybean plantings, respectively.

New Cover Crop App Connects Growers with Seed Dealers

September 3, 2021 | Posted in Economics

Practical Farmers of Iowa has released a new cover crop app designed to help farmers easily locate cover crop seed, services and suppliers. The app, Find Cover Crops, is free to download and use, and is available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Grass Cover Crops Are the Most Common Cover Crops Used Before Planting

August 9, 2021 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Source: USDA ERS

Cover crops—which are typically added to a crop rotation in between two commodity or forage crops—provide living, seasonal soil cover with a variety of on-farm benefits, such as increased soil moisture capacity, improved nutrient cycling, and weed suppression. Cover crops can also provide public benefits by reducing sediment loss, nutrient runoff, and leaching; reducing flooding; and storing carbon in the soil. Read more in this article from USDA Economic Research Service.

Cover Crop Burndown Considerations

May 21, 2021 | Posted in Termination

Source: Southeast Ag Net

Weed management is a year-round job, but producers take special care to make sound management decisions prior to planting, and that includes cover crop burndown. According to information from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), Alabama Extension Weed Scientist David Russell offers suggestions for planting into a weed-free field and maintaining a clean corn crop throughout the growing season. Read more in this article from Southeast AgNet.

[Video] Prep Your Planter: Closing Wheel Alignment

May 18, 2021 | Posted in Product Innovations & Introductions

Before you start planting, check out this video from Iowa State University Extension. Program Specialist Levi Powell demonstrates what you need to look for on the closing wheels of your planter.

[Video] Checking Depth Settings on Your Planter

May 12, 2021 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Find out a simple process to check the planter depth settings before heading to the field in this video from Iowa State University Extension. Proper depth when planting can increase planting accuracy.

[Video] Planter Setup for Better Downforce Performance

April 1, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Levi Powell with Iowa State University walks you through how to best calculate and set downforce pressure on your planter and how downforce can improve planting.