One of the many great things about cover crops is that they not only cover and build the soil, they can also be used to feed livestock. That’s an outstanding two-for-one benefit. Our team received this question from a dealer looking for a dairy forage blend for one of his customers to seed once spring […]
Forage Blend for Soil Cover and High Tonnage Read More »
I’m often asked what my favorite cover crop is after wheat and why. That’s a hard question because there is sufficient growing season after wheat to grow just about anything in the book! Planting cover crops after wheat is a big opportunity to improve the soil, protect it from erosion, grow organic matter and natural
My Favorite Cover Crop After Wheat Read More »
Soybean Cyst Nematode is the number one pest of soybeans across the US causing more yield loss than the next five diseases combined.
Studies have shown that cover crops such as red clover, sunn hemp, crimson clover, cereal rye, oats, daikon radish, or ryegrass reduce the number of eggs in the soil and/or reduce the number of female SCN on soybeans in the following season.
Cover Crops vs. Soybean Cyst Nematode Read More »
 I toured my fields on Friday, December 17, to document the results of cover crops planted in rather desperate conditions back in the fall. The purpose of the video is to show that even late, poorly planted cover crops are doing some good if one takes the time to look at ground level. My
Late Planted Cover Crop Evaluation Read More »
If I were to make a list of underutilized crops in American agriculture, buckwheat would be near the top. Buckwheat is a short-season broadleaf grain crop that is very easy to grow and can thrive in hot and dry conditions. As a cover crop, it is renowned for its ability to mineralize phosphorus from
Buckwheat as Nurse Crop for Clover Read More »
This was my first experience growing a pure stand of red clover. The main goal for the stand was nitrogen fixation for next year’s organic corn crop.
Benefits of a Pure Stand of Cover Crop Red Clover Read More »
Planting corn next spring? Choose the right cover crop in the fall to give your crop the maximum opportunity for high yields.
An Excellent Cover Crop Mix Ahead of Corn Read More »
While in southern Minnesota in early September 2013, I was asked when a farmer should plow his cover crop field this fall because he needs the fields to be “black” this winter in preparation for next spring. I shuddered. There I was in a beautiful field of cover crops that were jump-starting some biology on
Fall Cover Crop Management Read More »