Wayne Fredericks

Farmer, Osage, Iowa

"Proof is in the Percentages with Cover Crops & Soil Health"

Wayne Fredericks, a strip-tiller from Osage, Iowa, has reduced his use of fertilizers by 30% on his 750-acre farm, thanks to strip till and cover crops. Since the 1980s, Fredericks has collected soil data to measure soil health, and found that his soil organic matter has increased by 2.5% in 25 years. Fredericks will share how his cash crops have remained competitive while utilizing covers, how cover crops have helped reduce nitrates in the water on his farm, how he's built his farm up to 100% cover crop coverage, and more.

Dean Sponheim

Farmer, Nora Spring, Iowa

"Successful Aerial Seeding of Cover Crops"

Aerial seeding of covers is not the first method that many growers think of when planning to seed covers. Iowa no-tiller Dean Sponheim discusses how to deal with common challenges when aerial seeding covers, recommended establishment rates for aerial seeding, which cover crop species do the best when aerial seeded, and more.

Barry & Eli Little

Farmers, Castlewood, S.D.

"Taking Cover Crops Full Circle: Integrating Covers with Livestock"

The best tool for growers to maximize ROI using cover crops is to integrate livestock into their operation. Barry and Eli Little, a father-and-son team of growers from Castlewood, S.D., explain how their 2,500 acres of cropland and pastureland has improved using the soil health principles, including incorporating covers and ruminant animals on every acre; how their crop diversity has improved with cover crops; how they manage rotational grazing their cattle; and the economic benefits they've enjoyed from implementing covers and livestock.

Macauley Kincaid

Farmer, Jasper, Mo.

"Improving Cattle Performance by Grazing Cover Crops"

Missouri grower Macauley "Mac" Kincaid utilizes cover crops to graze his cattle nearly year-round. He's also built business relationships with other local cattle producers to secure grazing leases as an additional source of income for his no-till operation, where he grows corn, soybeans, wheat, and other cash crops. Kincaid's 880-acre farm is 100% cover cropped with multispecies covers.

Brian Ward

Organic Vegetable Specialist, Clemson University

"Maximizing Covers in Vegetable & Organic Systems"

Cover crops can be very effective in helping vegetable and organic growers with meeting their goals. Organic Vegetable Specialist Brian Ward with Clemson University will discuss how to create crop rotations that include cover crops, how to optimize no-till and cover crops for weed management when growing vegetables or organic crops, and the benefits to soil health and fertility from using covers in these types of systems.

David Miller

Farmer, Red Lake Falls, Minn.

"Best Practices for Cover Crop Interseeding, Relay Cropping & Polycropping"

Are you ready to take your cover crops to the next level? Minnesota grower David Miller will share his experiences with interseeding cover crops into corn and sunflowers, polycropping and relay cropping, and how their operation has had success with winter grazing his cover crops.

Roy Pfaltzgraff

Farmer, Haxtun, Colo.

"When is a Cover Crop not a Cover Crop?"

Roy Pfaltzgraff, a grower in arid Haxtun, Colo., explores the success and challenges going to continuous cropping with 16” average precipitation. Pfaltzgraff has integrated 14+ crops, resulting in reduced herbicide and fertilizer use, while increasing profitability and reducing risk.