Several farmers have asked me why they need to spend an “extra” 4-6 cents per pound to inoculate the legume seed they are planting for producing nitrogen with their cover crops. I get asked this especially about Austrian Winter Peas and Cowpea. However, if you are planting Crimson Clover, Berseem Clover, Kura Clover, Alsike, Hairy […]
Inoculating Cover Crop Legumes Pays Off Read More »
My brother, Don Robison, from Robison Farms in central Indiana, has been doing a significant amount of research in our fields where we had our cover crop test plot in 2011-12. One part of the research that Don conducted was comparing compaction ratings in each different plot area and also in a check area. In
On-Farm Research Reveals Cover Crops Reduce Compaction Read More »
The drought of 2012 has forced many Midwest growers to make the difficult decision to give up on the crop and prepare the land for next year. The consequence? Significant amounts of unused nitrogen remain in the soil. Planting a cover crop makes it possible to secure nitrogen in the field, reduce runoff, and recycle
Cover Crops for Grazing Drought ’12 is causing many cattle producers to consider cover crops for fall and winter grazing. Hay is very expensive and in short supply, and corn silage will be short in many areas. A lack of feed is leaving a number of dairy and beef producers looking to liquidate their herds.
Cover Crops for Fall and Winter Grazing Read More »
Need Feed? Harvesting cover crops for emergency fall forage may be able to play a major role in lessening the impact of the 2012 drought disaster for livestock producers. As I traveled from Indiana to eastern Iowa and through Wisconsin I saw dry ponds, cracked soil, nearly dead alfalfa, completely brown pastures, and an exceptionally
Harvesting Cover Crops for Emergency Fall Forage Read More »
CTIC Cover Crop Survey – Get it done right away! Chad Watts, CTIC Project Manager, asked me to help CTIC get a survey out for farmers using cover crops. Chad writes: The intent of the survey is to go out to only those folks who are using or have used cover crops, because the information
Cover Crop T-Shirts Cover Crops are gaining popularity and starting to become mainstream! How do I know? Now you can purchase Cover Crop T-Shirts! Practical Farmers of Iowa have designed a “Don’t Farm Naked” T-Shirt that you would be proud to wear (well, maybe not to church…). The shirts can be ordered here. For $15/shirt
The Midwest Cover Crop Council (MCCC) has added different states and cropping systems to their useful cover crop selection tool. This tool is a very helpful item that assists producers in choosing what cover crops can be used in their counties with their cropping systems and their choice of cover crop characteristics. Most recently Michigan
More Cover Crop Selection Tools Available Read More »