Seeding Practices

Planting Date and Corn Maturity with Legume Covers

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400

A fair question for row crop operations is what happens to corn yield when planting gets pushed back behind a legume cover.

Study Shows Cover Crops Can Provide Immediate Success

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Independent research agronomist Jim Stute recently unveiled the results of a long-term study of the economic and weed suppression effects of cover crop adoption and management in southeast Wisconsin.

Using a Single Cover Crop Species for Weed Control

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0400

No-tiller Tony Peirick keeps it simple with one cover crop species: cereal rye.

Planting Green? You May Need to Adjust Your Residual Herbicide Program

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Cover crops and soil residual herbicides can make a powerful weed control duo, but only if those herbicides actually reach the soil. Penn State, Virginia Tech, and University of Delaware researchers recently examined how much cover crops (and cover crop management) can prevent herbicides from reaching the soil, as well as which herbicide chemistries are more likely to wash-off cover crops through rainfall.

Smart Manure Aeration System ‘Fits Like a Glove,’ for No-Till & Cover Crop Users

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Earlier this summer I caught up with Pennsylvania no-tiller Grant Troop and he filled me in on a unique Smart Manure Aeration System that puts dollars and time back in the pockets of no-tillers and he even refers to it as “a soil health dream.”

Cover Crops Gave Me My Summers Back

kdowning@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This past weekend as I was helping my friend weed her small flower garden, I reflected on the many hours of my life I have spent pulling weeds.

Arizona Farmer Uses 5-Way Cover Crop Mix Ahead of Corn

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 01:00:00 -0400

From innovative equipment to an innovative farmer. Let’s head out to Coolidge, Ariz., now to check out one of Robert Boyle’s more action-packed fields.

Soybean Yield Champ Previews Upcoming National No-Tillage Conference Presentation

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

A few weeks ago I visited my home state of Maryland and had the chance to chat with Finksburg, Md., no-tiller and soybean yield champ Chris Weaver.

Listen to the 2026 Growing Season Farm Playlist

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 13:11:11 -0400

Hop in the cab, hit shuffle and enjoy these songs that all have something to do with farming. Some of them are directly farming related like Luke Bryan's "Rain Is a Good Thing." Other's might be more subtle like Jason Isbell's song "Grown," which isn't necessarily about agriculture but the title involves things (or people) that grow.

Steve Groff Bringing Cover Crop Knowledge to No-Till Conference

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

As you can see, we are at the birthplace of the tillage radish. Yes, I'm on Steve Groff's farm in Holtwood, Pennsylvania. And speaking of which, we're going to toss it off to Steve right now for some cover crop action.

Hitting the Road — Editors Prepare for Upcoming Farm Visits

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

As the weather heats up and farmers everywhere get busier, the editorial team and I are getting plans squared away to hit the road and travel to several farms and field days in the coming months.

What Methods Are Farmers Using to Seed Cover Crops?

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In a recent poll, growers shared insight into the equipment and methods they find most effective for seeding cover crops.

More Livestock Farmers Grazed Cover Crops, Saw Lower Value

lbarrera@lesspub.com — Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Farmers raising livestock & cover crops remained largely consistent in their practices, though there were slight shifts with the species grazed & timing.

Farmers Set New Record for Average Acreage Planted Green, Battled Dry Fall Conditions

lbarrera@lesspub.com — Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Other seeding & termination trends show drones as a seeding tool continued to grow & the type of herbicide used for termination varied by region.

Cover Cropping Costs Climb

lbarrera@lesspub.com — Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Farmers spent more on seed & saw fewer pesticide savings, but thanks to incentive payments, most are not bearing the full brunt of expenses.

2025 Cover Crop Benchmark Study Reveals Latest Trends, Changes & Challenges

lbarrera@lesspub.com — Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Data from the annual survey found that average planting green acres grew to a new record, costs rose & more livestock owners turned to cover crop grazing.

Cover Crops & Innovation — Side by Side in the Thesaurus

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Growers who use cover crops are, by nature, constantly looking for other ways to innovate & trailblaze with new ideas on the farm

Working-Farm Evidence Brings Commercial Cover Crops into Spotlight

Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The “how-to” guidance on cover crops is mostly built on agricultural station experiments. That work is valuable, but not always a good mirror of what happens on a busy working farm in-season.

Young Farmer Saves Soil, Crushes Weeds with Strip-Till & Rye

Mon, 18 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In Mt. Sterling, Illinois, young farmer Wade Yingling and his dad, Bruce, are capturing success with strip-till and cover crops, with a little vertical tillage mixed in as well.

Tony Peirick Shares his 2026 Planting Season Update

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 15 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

This week I’ve got another update from this year’s Conservation ag Operator Fellow — Wisconsin no-tiller Tony Peirick. Let’s take a listen as he gives us his official 2026 planting season update.

How Do Full-Season Cover Crops Affect Insect Populations?

Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A 2025 study in eastern Nebraska found higher insect abundance and diversity in cover crop areas compared to adjacent seed corn, including both beneficial species and potential pests.

Spring Is Here: Are You Ready to Fly Your Drone Legally?

Sat, 09 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Spring has arrived and drones are back in the sky. Before you launch, it’s important to make sure you’re operating within the law.

What are YOU Using to Seed Cover Crops? Join the Discussion...

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

My question — and the responses that come from it — are going to be used for a story about cover crop seeding methods.

Leading With Experience: Nitrate Reduction Strategies

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

For me, adoption of some conservation practices took a little nudge from nature.

Researchers Breeding Covers for Targeted Benefits, Specific Environments

lbarrera@lesspub.com — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

From cereal rye with higher levels of weed-controlling allelochemicals to hairy vetch that germinates in the first year, scientists are working to breed better cover crops

Farmer Case Studies on Planting Green & Dealing with Residue

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Dig into this forum for more details on buying and selling cover crop seed, using cover crop mixes for multiple benefits, cover crop seeding rates, methods, and timing.

Weed and Nutrient Management in Cover Crop Systems

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Clay Lowe uses strategic cover crop mixes and termination timing to maximize weed suppression.

Tony Peirick Highlights Importance of Farmer-Led Learning

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

If you haven’t had a chance to dive into this year’s Conservation ag Operator Fellowship series with Wisconsin no-tiller Tony Peirick, now is the time. He and many other growers around the country are making plans to get into the field and plant in the coming weeks.

No-Till, Strip-Till and Cover Crops Research Journal - April 2026

lessitef@lesspub.com — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

In this edition:

Conservation Agriculture: Helping to Return to Within Planetary Boundaries
Soil Structure Changes Under Reduced Tillage and Cover Cropping Enhance Carbon Mineralization in Mediterranean Croplands
Cover Cropping Increases the Abundance of Mycorrhizal and Endophytic Fungi Structures Associated with Ecosystem Functioning
Conservation Agriculture: A Review of Plant Residue use with Zero Tillage and Crop Rotation
Unlocking Climate Resilience by Exploring the Mitigation Potential of Improved Rotation with Cover Cropping

Farmer Forum Walkthrough of Cover Crop Seeding Practices

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Dig into this forum for more details on buying and selling cover crop seed, using cover crop mixes for multiple benefits, cover crop seeding rates, methods, and timing.