Cover Crops

A team of Illinois State University researchers are evaluating the impact of cover crops on carbon sequestration and organic matter.

Keeping the massive microbial community in soils happy is vital in crop production and research is underway that focuses on the relationships between cover crop selection and microbes.

Field trials of a new cover crop, CoverCress, are in its third year at the Illinois State University Farm and multiple benefits are being realized as intended.

Landowners installed more than 31,500 new conservation practices last year, according to the Indiana Conservation Partnership.

Every day is Earth Day to a farmer. Preserving and protecting our natural resources has always been and will always be a priority in every aspect of food production.

Local foods and regenerative agriculture efforts scored some major wins by the close of the Illinois General Assembly session.

Indiana Farm Bureau celebrated Earth Day by highlighting the importance of natural resources to farmers. From cover crops and manure management to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, Hoosier farmers are providing nutritious food while being good stewards of the land.

Building soil organic matter is important to farmers for several reasons, including sequestering carbon and increasing crop yields.

The notion of carbon markets is not new, but has been pushed to the forefront of recent in ramped-up efforts to sequester carbon dioxide.

Rotational grazing and quality hay are important for conception rates in cattle. “It is important for the cows to have a good body condition score for good conception rates and that goes back to rotational grazing and good quality hay,” said Terry Bachtold.

With another growing season on the horizon, I think of all the preparation that goes into making the upcoming year successful on my family’s farm in California’s Central Valley.

The Iffts planted their first cover crop 10 years ago on 50 acres, continued to increase acres year-over-year and have seen the benefits of this practice.

Nutrient and weed control plans may end up looking different than usual this year, which makes it especially important to keep soil health in mind, said Hans Kok of the Conservation Technology Information Center in West Lafayette.

The American Farmland Trust accepted the Partner of Conservation Award for its work in the Illinois Vermilion Headwaters Watershed.

The Illinois Forage and Grassland Council will host an educational meeting for livestock and hay producers on Saturday, March 12.