cover crop News
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The future of cover crops
Winter cover crops are an important component of nutrient cycling, soil cover and organic matter content. Although its benefits are well documented, cover crop use in farming systems is relatively low. Research has shown that time and money are the two primary reasons why farmers are hesitant to adopt the technique. Developing innovative and cost-effective crop cover systems could increase the ...
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National Survey on Cover Crops Seeks Farmer Participation
Farmers are invited to share their thoughts on cover crops—whether or not they use cover crops themselves—in a national survey, now in its third year of collecting valuable data on the increasingly popular management practice. The results, which will be released this summer, will help growers, researchers, agricultural advisors, ag retailers and policymakers more effectively address ...
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Defra Sings Praises of Cover Crops – Vertical Strorage Tanks For All Farming Applications
Defra has recently been hailing the many merits of cover crops as part of a long-term approach to farming success, according to Farmers Weekly. Cover crops deliver a range of soil and environmental benefits and they fit in well with spring cropping. Experts are advising that cover crops should in fact be viewed as part of an integrated management strategy to help with various faming challenges. ...
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Satellites help keep Chesapeake Bay clean
Space-age technologies to help Maryland implement and monitor an expanded winter cover crop program that is vital to the Chesapeake Bay's health are being developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Beltsville, Md. Soil scientist Gregory McCarty and colleagues Dean Hively, Ali Sadeghi and Megan Lang with the ARS Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory in Beltsville are ...
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Why You Should Consider Cover Crops for Your Farm
The state of soybean planting around the country right now ranges from “finished” to “about to start,” depending on geography and weather. But even if you’re still focused on getting your first soybean seed in the ground, it’s not a bad idea to start thinking about what you’ll plant after harvest. If those plans include cover crops, you might start seeing ...
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Self-seeding: an innovative management system
US researchers have investigated the potential for rye and wheat cover crops to perpetuate themselves, saving time and money for farmers while providing environmental benefits Winter cover crops provide important ecological functions that include nutrient cycling and soil cover. Although cover crop benefits to agroecosystems are well documented, cover crop use in agronomic farming systems ...
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Cover Crops Capture Nutrients to the Benefit of Farmers and Water Quality
Many factors contribute to the excess phosphorous that stimulates algal systems in bodies of water such as Lake Erie. Sources of excess phosphorous include urban stormwater, factories, sewers, household wastes and lawn fertilizer, and in some areas runoff from fertilizers or manure applied to fields. Fortunately, many farmers are already doing their part to improve water. For example, cover ...
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March 29 Soil Health Workshop Focuses on Benefits of Cover Crops
Farmers who want to improve their soil’s health and cut input costs all while benefiting Ohio’s water quality may want to consider adding cover crops to their fields. Additional benefits for growers to add cover crops such as oilseed radish, cereal rye, Austrian winter pea and crimson clover include reducing soil erosion and nutrient losses, according to Alan Sundermeier, an Ohio ...
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Cover Crop Workshops Featured at the Iowa Power Farming Show
All you ever wanted to know about cover crops will be in one place next week. Whether you use cover crops or are still evaluating them, save time and money by attending the Cover Crop Workshops at this year’s Iowa Power Farming Show, January 28-30, in Des Moines, Iowa. The Workshops will feature grain and livestock farmers with on-farm cover crop experience, as well as other experts. ...
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Soil Health from Local Farmers & Experts On Tap at Free SFA Cafe Chats
The Sustainable Farming Association is again hosting its series of popular Cafe Chats, free events featuring area farmers who are practicing soil health principles like cover crops, more diverse species, reduction in soil disturbance and adding livestock. At each Cafe Chat, area farmers share their soil health experience, followed by open questions and discussion. SFA Livestock & Grazing ...
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SFA Soil Health Cafe Chat is April 1 in Amboy
As part of our popular event series, SFA is hosting a final spring Soil Health Cafe Chat from 3 to 6 p.m. Mon., April 1, at Amboy Cottage Cafe, 100 E Main St, Amboy. This free event features area farmer Scott Haase (above), who is practicing soil health principles like cover crops, more diverse species, reduction in soil disturbance and adding livestock. SFA Livestock & Grazing Specialist ...
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Cover Crops Add to Farm Sustainability
A potentially record-setting U.S. corn harvest is underway. Many farmers can attribute the use of cover crops as one of multiple best management practices (BMPs) that help them increase yield year after year. Combined with BMPs of The Fertilizer Institute’s 4R Nutrient Stewardship program that promotes the application of nutrients at the right source, right rate, right time and right place, ...
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In organic cover crops, more seeds means fewer weeds
Farmers cultivating organic produce often use winter cover crops to add soil organic matter, improve nutrient cycling and suppress weeds. Now these producers can optimize cover crop use by refining seeding strategies, thanks to work by an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist. In moderate climates, suppressing weeds in winter cover crops is important because weeds that grow throughout ...
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Cover crops reduce erosion, runoff
Cover crops may be more effective at reducing soil erosion and runoff after maize harvest than rough tillage, according to scientists from the Université Catholique de Louvain, in collaboration with the Independent Center for the Promotion of Forage (CIPF). The three-year study, supervised by Charles Bielders and conducted by Eric Laloy, measured erosion and runoff losses from silt loam ...
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Cover crops can benefit hot, dry soils
The Southern High Plains of the United States have low annual rainfall. When it does rain, though, intense storms can cause severe soil erosion. Strong winds also strip away valuable topsoil. Usually grown during seasons when primary crops aren’t cultivated, cover crops can include legumes such as pea and hairy vetch, or grassy crops like oats and barley. Cover crops do more than just ...
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Understanding why rye works as a cover crop
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists may soon find a way to enhance the weed-killing capabilities of a cereal grain that enriches the soil when used as a winter cover crop. Rye is often grown in winter and killed in the spring, so the dead stalks can be flattened over soybean and vegetable fields to block sunlight and prevent spring weeds from getting the light they need to germinate. ...
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Find out what SARE is funding in your state
Did you know that since 1988 SARE has invested more than $211 million in 5,300 sustainable agriculture research and education projects across the United States? From Washington to Florida, Maine to Hawaii, SARE grants support projects on cover crops and diversified rotations, integrated pest management, pasture-based grazing, energy, marketing and much more. Discover SARE-funded projects in your ...
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Living mulch, organic fertilizer tested on broccoli
Cover crops provide many benefits to agricultural production systems, including soil and nutrient retention, resources and habitat for beneficial organisms, and weed suppression. In regions where short growing seasons can hinder the establishment of productive cover crops between cash crop growing periods, living mulch systems may provide vegetable crop growers with opportunities to establish ...
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Easing the soil’s temperature
Soil characteristics like organic matter content and moisture play a vital role in helping plants flourish. It turns out that soil temperature is just as important. Every plant needs a certain soil temperature to thrive. If the temperature changes too quickly, plants won’t do well. Their seeds won’t germinate or their roots will die. “Most plants are sensitive to extreme ...
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Choice of winter cover crop mixture steers summer crop yield
Scientists from Wageningen University & Research demonstrate that the productivity of a next main crop can be manipulated through the choice of species in a preceding winter cover crop mixture. They report their latest findings in the Journal of Applied Ecology of 2nd of June. With their publication, the scientist agree with recommendations of FAO to included cover crops in rotations, on ...
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