Picture from Mercer County, OH. The farmer planted cover crops using two different methods to evaluate stand establishment.
Read MoreVertical till application on left. Air drill application on right.
Buckwheat as Nurse Crop for Clover
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 the soil as well as provide late-season pollinator habitat.
Read MoreBenefits of a Pure Stand of Cover Crop Red Clover
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 MoreN-Vest Nutribuilder Mix
Fall 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 More
A 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 More