On the Noble Research Institute’s research ranches and pastures, which cover 14,000 acres across southern Oklahoma, visitors might be surprised to see sheep and goats mingling with cattle on pastureland.

For No-tillers growing corn and soybeans, seeding cover crops will almost always increase profits. But maybe not right away, maintains the Univ. of Missouri’s Rob Myers.

Cereal rye and winter wheat are two of the most commonly used cover crops for corn and soybean growers, but there are some alternative cover crops with a lot of potential for helping improve soil health and cash crop yield.

Fourth-generation farmer John Burk grows corn, soybeans, dry beans, sugar beets and wheat across 4,300 acres in Bay City, Mich., just 10 miles south of Lake Huron.

Our heavy clay soils are among our greatest farm management challenges. They’re also vaults holding exceptionally valuable production rewards.