Cover Crops

Cover Crops
Uncover the latest information on different species of cover crops and their benefits; tips on the equipment used to seed them; and how no-tillers are using covers on their farm operation to improve their no-till systems.

ARTICLES

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No-Tiller's Cover-Cropped Acres 49 Degrees Cooler Than Bare Ground in High Heat

Management strategies, termination times & seed mixtures are all important aspects of a successful plan
It may have taken a “double-dog dare” for Oklahoma no-tiller Jimmy Emmons to try different crops and different cover crops in his rotation, but many of those experiments have paid big dividends in what Emmons calls “wow” moments.
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What I've Learned from No-Tilling

‘Every Year I Will Get Better’: No-Tiller Constantly Embraces Change

Ongoing learning & evaluation of technology, cover crops & other practices advance no-till operation
Every Year I will get better at farming. I will keep what works. I will change what doesn’t work, gladly adopting new technologies or practices if they demonstrate a more efficient or successful path forward.
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[Podcast] Diversify Your Toolbox to Manage Resistant Weeds in No-Till

In this episode of the No-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, Purdue weed science professor Bryan Young talks about strategies to fight herbicide-resistant weeds in no-till, including some of the most promising precision technologies to consider adding to your toolbox.
In this episode of the No-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, Purdue weed science professor Bryan Young talks about strategies to fight herbicide-resistant weeds in no-till, including some of the most promising precision technologies to consider adding to your toolbox. 

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No-Till Farmer Influencers & Innovators

[Podcast] No-Till in the Palouse & Fertilizer Must-Knows with Guy Swanson

For this episode of the No-Till Farmer Influencers & Innovators Podcast, brought to you by SOURCE® from Sound Agriculture, editor Frank Lessiter sits down with Guy Swanson, a 50+ year no-till veteran.
For this episode of the No-Till Farmer Influencers & Innovators Podcast, brought to you by SOURCE® from Sound Agriculture, editor Frank Lessiter sits down with Guy Swanson, a 50+ year no-till veteran. The two of them discuss deep band fertilizer applications, the creation of the no-till Yielder Drill known as “Old Yeller,” and the early no-till movement that Swanson and his father sparked in the Palouse.
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[Podcast] Finding Cover Crop Success with 2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow Loran Steinlage

In this episode of the No-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, 2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow Loran Steinlage of West Union, Iowa, shares a harvest update and answers cover crop questions.
In this episode of the No-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, 2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow Loran Steinlage of West Union, Iowa, shares a harvest update and answers cover crop questions.

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Keeping Busy with Cover Crops

Attica, Ind., no-tiller Dan DeSutter is always looking for ways to improve his cover-crop system. We visited him in the spring of 2016 when he was rolling/crimping his cover crops and planting soybeans.

To learn about DeSutter's operation, check out the What I've Learned from No-Tilling article: Rejuvenating Acres and Ramping Up Soil Productivity.

PRODUCTS

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No-Till & Cover Crops Handbook

$29.95

Transitioning from conventional farming to no-till and incorporating the use of cover crops requires a higher level of management, but with No-Till Farmer's new No-Till & Cover Crops Handbook, you now have easy access to the critical information you need on field preparation, equipment requirements, how no-till and covers impact other agronomic practices and more.

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Covering Up, Part 5: Building a More Efficient, Diverse Cover Crop System Cover

Covering Up, Part 5: Building a More Efficient, Diverse Cover Crop System

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$15.95
This special 26 page report goes in-depth on the role of covers in a dynamic farm ecosystem. Kicking things off are the results of our 2021 Cover Crop Benchmark Study, detailing what a wide range of growers have to say about different topics related to all things cover crops. View
Covering Up Part 4

Covering Up, Part 4: Getting Results with Innovative Cover Crop Systems

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$15.95
In this 32-page special report, you’ll read about some of the farmers and researchers who are pushing the boundaries of cover crop management, discovering new ways they can extend the growing season, supplement grazing, capture more sunlight, feed the biology underground and even improve the bottom line. View
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Cover Cropping Triple-Play Package

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$44.85
$29.95
$14.90 (33%)
This 3-report package offers a trifecta of top-notch reports exploring the most critical cover cropping information you need to know. You'll learn the newest cover cropping options, explained in easy-to-understand terms so you can put them into practice immediately. View
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The Secrets of Soil Biology: How to Make it the Engine for a More Profitable No-Till Operation

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$15.95
Don't miss out on the next no-till breakthrough to help you push yields and profits! This timely and actionable report will lead you through new developments in soil biology. You'll learn the key players that make up your soil 'livestock,' the link between crop rotation and improved soil function and new soil tests that can shine a light on what's happening below the soil surface. View
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Covering Up, Part 3: Branching Out With Your Cover Crop Program

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$15.95
Looking to go from a single species to a cover crop cocktail, or to drastically reduce your fertilizer bill, or to extend the life – and benefits – of your covers by planting into them? Check out these success stories, learning experiences and new ideas to help you achieve your next cover-crop goal with No-Till Farmer’s third installment on cover crops. View
NNTC16 Audio Presentations

Watching Out for Herbicide Carryover in Your Early Seeded Cover Crops - Bryan Young - NNTC 2016 Presentation - MP3 Download

$19.95

The increased application of herbicides with soil residual activity in corn and soybean production has complicated fall establishment of cover crops. Initially, the concern focused on the emergence and early vigor of cover crop stands, but has more recently been implicated by some individuals as contributing to a decrease in winter survival. As farmers explore methods for seeding cover crops even earlier in the fall or possibly inter-seeded with corn, the issue of herbicide carryover becomes an even more critical issue, says Bryan Young. The Purdue University weed scientist shares how we can make educated estimates of which herbicide and cover-crop combinations may be the most detrimental, but trial and error will prove to be the only reliable method of gaining local experience that directly relates to your farm operation.

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NNTC16 Audio Presentations

Maximizing Your Cover Crop Investment for Better No-Till Health and Profits - Darin Williams - NNTC 2016 Presentation - MP3 Download

$19.95

Increased water infiltration, less erosion, cleaner water and improved overall health of cash crops are just a few benefits Darin Williams has witnessed since adding cover crops to his 2,000-acre no-till operation in east central Kansas. Williams discusses these benefits and several more, including how cover crops have reduced his weed population and chemical inputs and allowed his non-GMO crops to do just as well as GMOs. He also shares how adding livestock to the operation has maximized his investment in cover crops, as well as his experience in marketing cover crop seed to seed companies.

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NNTC16 Audio Presentations

Plant Green into Cover Crops This Spring - Jim Hershey - NNTC 2016 Presentation - MP3 Download

$19.95

Jim Hershey challenges you to consider planting before you terminate your high-value cover crop in the spring. The Elizabethtown, Pa., no-tiller and president of the Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance has been practicing the “planting green” system on his corn, soybean, wheat and livestock operation using multispecies cover crops with great success. Hershey shares his experiences with this system and how it’s reduced his slug pressure to nothing. He also talks about the cover crop interseeder that was built on his farm and what he’s seen from it.

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NNTC16 Audio Presentations

Integrating a Diverse Rotation, Cover Crops and Livestock Into Your No-Till System - Darin Williams - NNTC 2016 Presentation - MP3 Download

$19.95

Darin Williams wishes he had known about no-till and grazing cover crops when he decided to go into home building after college because he didn’t think he’d make it as a farmer in his community. But since he took up farming in 2010, Williams has been able to grow his no-till operation to 2,000 acres of non-GMO corn, soybeans, wheat, rye, triticale, winter barley and milo, and grazes his cattle herd on cover crops to maximize their investment. Williams also has a flock of sheep and recently added poultry. Considering organic matter to be king on his farm, the Waverly, Kan., no-tiller discusses the components that make up his no-till system, including why he tries to direct-market everything produced to consumers and how he marketed his grain for premiums in 2015.

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DOCUMENTS AND FILES

Pluses and Minuses of Cover Crops

Now is the time to choose the right cover crop species to improve YOUR no-till operation. “The Pluses and Minuses of Today’s Most Popular Cover Crops” report reveals how you can pick and utilize the cover crop species that are perfect for your farm, and it’s FREE!

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