I recently plowed under a successful stand of red clover in an organic wheat field on my farm near Kokomo, Indiana. I have grown alfalfa and mixed stands of hay as a cash crop for my entire career. Five years ago we began experimenting with organic grain production to try something new and take advantage of the synergies between organic grain farming and our existing hay business.
Read MoreFall Cover Crop Mix Doing the Job
It’s important to get maximum benefit out of your fall-planted cover crop. Choose the species or mix that will have maximum benefit for the following year’s cash crop, while also remembering the long-term benefits associated with the ongoing use of cover crops.
Read MoreA cash crop farmer’s advice for a successful cover crop
A 14-year veteran to cover cropping, Dave has many words of wisdom from lessons learned for his fellow producers venturing into cover crops for the first time.
Read MorePrevent Plant Options
Weather always plays a vital role in production agriculture. In 2019 we have seen unprecedented amounts of rain which has left the Midwest mostly unplanted, whether it is corn, soybeans, or forage crops.
With the late planting dates, some farms may opt to take the Preventive Planting route. These unplanted acres are a great place to put out cover crops to improve the soils, both short and long term.
Read MoreBe Careful When Sourcing Cereal Rye
Recent data just released by the Indiana State Seed Lab reveals a high discrepancy between seed samples involving both germination rates and percentage of weed seed.
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