Cover Crop Plant Guides
Connect to the USDA-NRCS cover crops and soil health information on the web, which includes cover crop guides.
SOURCE: USDA-NRCS
Connect to the USDA-NRCS cover crops and soil health information on the web, which includes cover crop guides.
SOURCE: USDA-NRCS
Published in 2007, this guide can be used in conjunction with other information on farm management to develop a reasonable cover crops strategy.
SOURCE: Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, USDA, University of Maryland and University of Vermont.
This summary of cover crop selection will be helpful for producers who want a quick guide with no-nonsense information in order to solve a specific field challenge.
SOURCE: North Dakota State University
Research from Michigan State University quantifies the importance of nitrogen loss from low-producing areas of individual fields. The study’s good news is that farmers can pinpoint exactly which spots in their fields produce stable yields as well as which areas are inconsistent. By concentrating on those, farmers can save money, reduce fertilizer loss, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
SOURCE: Michigan State University
Newly released research conducted by NACD and Datu Research found that corn and soybean farmers who use cover crops and/or no-till can improve their bottom lines by over $100 per acre.
SOURCE: National Association of Conservation Districts
More and more farmers all across Virginia are making the switch to soil building continuous no-till systems. These farmers are cutting costs and saving time by planting all of their crops, year in and year out, without tillage. They are also maximizing the soil benefits that come with less disturbance by adding in cover crops, crop rotation, and other practices. As diverse as they are, one thing these farmers all have in common, they tell us they are gaining ground.
SOURCE: Gaining Ground Virginia
In the past, “ecoganic” farmer Ellen Polishuk would tune out when she heard the words “no-till,” thinking it had nothing to do with her biological vegetable farm. In this video, Ellen explains how she is now trying to save time and further enhance her organic soil management system by seeding cover crops without tillage. Be sure to watch the associated profile video that provides an overview of Ellen’s soil management strategy, as well as the other technical clips with details about her soil-enhancing practices.
SOURCE: USDA-NRCS Virginia
Recommended Soil Health Indicators and Associated Laboratory Procedures.
SOURCE: USDA-NRCS, Federal Register 2018