Adding livestock to a cover crop system is considered the last step in bringing cover crops full circle in an operation. One Kansas grower and livestock producer shares insights from 35-plus years of no-till, 23 years of cover cropping and using livestock to increase his soil’s health and productivity while significantly reducing input costs.

John Stigge, Washington, Kan., has a philosophy focused on soil health and raises carbon-negative beef on his 1,200 acre farm. Stigge and his family have mastered carbon sequestration, which results in accelerated growth of grasses and cover crops and increased soil organic matter.

During the online National Cover Crop Summit: Fall 2020 Edition, Stigge will discuss why his cattle are so healthy, why high carbon soils need less water and nitrogen, why his grain has increased nutrient density and more.

The National Cover Crop Summit: Fall 2020 Edition will be held Nov. 17-18, 2020, through an interactive and educational online format that allows attendees to watch pre-recorded on-demand sessions at their convenience. It features a diverse learning program of speakers addressing cover crop topics including aerial seeding, feeding livestock cover crops through the winter, incorporating cover crops into crop rotations, and more.

To provide attendee with an educational experience to fit their specific needs and schedule, there are two registration options for this event:

• Attendees can register for free and gain access to 6 National Cover Crop Summit presentations for 2 days only, November 17-18
• A VIP upgrade is available for $49 and gives attendees 12 months of access to all 6 event presentations, access to top-rated sessions from past National Cover Crop Summits, plus a package of valuable attendee freebies including 4 cover crop management reports offering practical tips and ideas on a variety of critical cover crop topics. Registration and program details can be found here. 

Title sponsors making the National Cover Crop Summit possible include Montag Mfg., Yetter Farm Equipment, KB Seed Solutions, Kelly Tillage System, MidWest Bio-Tech, and Underground Agriculture.