Cover crops - Articles

Cover Crops Provide 'Bed and Breakfast' for Migrating Birds

December 21, 2017 | Posted in Cover Crops

Source: Deborah Gertz Husar, Farm and Field

The advent of cover crops provides a potentially important habitat for birds returning to the Midwest from areas as far south as Argentina.

Lessons Learned with Cover Cropping in Strip-Till

December 15, 2017 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops

Incorporating cover crops into strip-till has delivered both benefits and challenges during the 8 years Nickerson, Neb., farmer Brent Willnerd has used them on both seed corn and commercial crops. He discusses the transition from aerial seeding to drilling in varieties included cereal rye, radishes and rye.

[Podcast] Learning from Trial and Error to Transform a Strip-Till System

This week we're joined by Nickerson, Neb., farmers Kirk Brand and Brent Willnerd, who discuss the hard learned lessons they've experienced following their adoption of strip-till on their combined operation four years ago.

December 14, 2017 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management

This week we're joined by Nickerson, Neb., farmers Kirk Brand and Brent Willnerd, who discuss the hard learned lessons they've experienced following their adoption of strip-till on their combined operation four years ago.

A Quick Guide to Planting Cover Crops

December 13, 2017 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops

Source: Pete Conkle, Farm and Dairy

Aerial seeding and precision row crop planter seeding are methods that need to take place while the cash crop is still standing in the field. This winter would be an excellent time to research these methods for next year’s cover crop seeding.

Can Cover Crops Help Control SCN?

December 7, 2017 | Posted in Cover Crops, Crop Protection

Source: Chelsea Harbach, Wallaces Farmer

Many cover crop species have been found to be non-hosts for SCN; however, we cannot say that all cover crops are non-hosts as some species can support SCN reproduction, including crimson clover, field pennycress and more.

Easing the Soil’s Temperature with Cover Crops

November 8, 2017 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Soil Health

Research has shown that both cover crops and perennial biofuel crops can relieve soil compaction. Cover crops are generally planted between cash crops such as corn and soybeans to protect the bare soil.

9 Things To Know About Annual Ryegrass

October 30, 2017 | Posted in Cover Crops

Here are 9 things to consider if you are thinking about planting annual ryegrass as a cover crop

[Podcast] A Sensible Approach to Cover Cropping in Strip-Till

This week we welcome strip-tiller Mike Verdonck to share how he adopted a constant cover cropping system to accelerate soil recovery after harvesting cash crops as well as some of the soil rehabilitative benefits of combining cover crops and strip-till.

October 18, 2017 | Posted in Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

This week we welcome strip-tiller Mike Verdonck to share how he adopted a constant cover cropping system to accelerate soil recovery after harvesting cash crops as well as some of the soil rehabilitative benefits of combining cover crops and strip-till.

Crain's Chicago Business Names Dawn Equipment as 2017 Most Innovative Company in Chicagoland

October 18, 2017 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops

Source: John Pletz, Crain’s Chicago Business

Driving isn’t the only thing that’s going to be autonomous. Planting crops also will be done on autopilot, and a small family-owned company is leading the way. That’s why Dawn Equipment topped Crain’s latest list of the most innovative Chicago-area companies, based on an analysis of patents.