Cover Crops will be the main topic of discussion on September 4, 2013 at a cover crop field day and meeting in Blooming Prairie, MN. I have the privilege of speaking at this event as we look at cover crops on prevented plant acres. We will also look at what cover crops work best in the […]
Cover Crop Field Day Set in Blooming Prairie, MN Read More »
Over the past few weeks I have heard from countless farmers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, and Iowa that are considering taking prevented planting on all or parts of their farms. Growers Edge just published an excellent piece Prevented Planting Guidelines. Also see my articles on Prevented Planting Row Crop Acres – Which Cover
Cover Crops and Prevented Planting Guidelines Read More »
As Oregon and other west coast farmers try to keep up with the demand of getting seed back to the Midwest from their newly harvested crops, we are beginning to see some potential issues with just-harvested seed. In the past, supply was usually greater than demand at harvest time. However, seed companies and farmers now
Be Aware of Dormant Seed in Cover Crops Read More »
Is it ever too early plant cover crops? YES. As many of you have figured out, I sell seed for a living. I also have been a farmer or involved on the farm since I was a little boy. But first and foremost I am an agronomist. The temptation of a seed salesman is to
Is it Ever Too Early to Plant Cover Crops? Read More »
All of what is reported below was accomplished after only one year of cover crops. This work was inspired by a conversation Don and I had last winter with Dr. Eileen Kladivko from Purdue University. As I say in cover crop meetings, Don’t expect a miracle the first year – but look for one. Over
Cover Crops Provide Improved Corn Yields in On-Farm Trial 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 »
Cover Crop Radishes or Turnips as a Cover Crop – or Both? Cover crop radishes certainly receive a lot of press. I have researched them quite a bit over the past four years. On this blog alone I have over 20 posts about radishes. They are fun to take photos of, dig around in, research,
Cover Crop Turnips – A Good Choice Over Radishes? Read More »
Meet the Cover Crop Scavengers Over the years I have worked with cover crops I have recommended that producers use “scavengers” like Annual Ryegrass, turnips, cereal rye, winter barley, oats, and cover crop radishes. These cover crops do a very good job of capturing excess nitrogen and other nutrients and keeping them from reaching the
Nutrient Scavenging Cover Crops – How much good are they doing? It depends. Read More »