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A six-year study conducted by Kip Balkcom, a research agronomist at USDA-ARS, investigated the best planting dates and input rates for high-residue cover crops. The study found that early planting dates and higher nitrogen rates resulted in increased biomass production. Seeding rates did not significantly impact biomass production, suggesting that lower seeding rates could be used to reduce costs. The study also highlighted the importance of reduced tillage and the potential for cover crops to enhance soil health benefits. However, it is important to note that these findings are specific to one soil type and location in the southeast, and cover crop management may vary depending on different factors. [Extracted from the article]

A recent article in Southeast Farm Press discusses the use of broiler litter to improve soil health and fertility. Clemson University nutrient management specialist Bhupinder Farmaha is conducting research to find methods to increase crop yields and enrich soil. The article explains that broiler litter, which is rich in organic matter and nutrients, can improve soil health and crop productivity by enhancing soil structure and water retention. The research includes recommendations for applying broiler litter and urea based on specific yield goals and site availability. The study's methodology involves careful selection of diverse sites and precise application of broiler litter. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents the discussion on farming challenges in the Texas High Plains due to low rainfall and declining aquifer levels. Topics include proposing new approaches like cover crops and wider row spacings for more efficient water use, particularly in cotton production; and emphasizes research on rainfed production methods, soil health improvement, and the importance of moisture retention to enhance crop yields in arid conditions.

This article discusses the strategies used by peanut farmers to improve production. The article includes a Q&A panel with the winners of the Peanut Efficiency Award, where they share their experiences and insights. One farmer mentions rotating peanuts with soybeans, although he does not endorse this practice. Other topics discussed include the use of cover crops, disease concerns, and the challenges faced by family farmers. Overall, the article provides valuable information for researchers interested in peanut farming techniques. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the 2024 Farm Press Peanut Efficiency Award (PEA) winners and their production strategies. One of the winners, Shannon Nixon, is asked about his unconventional practice of rotating peanuts with soybeans. Nixon explains that he was forced into this practice because cotton was no longer profitable for him. Other PEA winners discuss their use of cover crops, their concerns about diseases, and the future of family farming. The article provides insights into the challenges and strategies employed by peanut farmers in different regions. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the challenges and benefits of maintaining vegetation year-round in crop fields, particularly in regions with limited moisture and extreme temperatures like West Texas. It mentions ongoing research on regenerative agriculture systems, indicating that while cover crops can increase water storage capacity and yield potential, optimizing nutrient management and addressing income gaps during fallow years remain critical considerations for sustainable implementation.

The article explores maximizing legume nutrient uptake in cover crops, emphasizing the challenge for Virginia corn farmers to synchronize planting schedules due to differing flowering times, with ongoing research aiming to identify early-blooming species for optimal nitrogen accumulation.

The article underscores the significance of fertility management for cotton crop success. It mentions that agronomists stress the importance of soil sampling, precise nutrient management, particularly focusing on nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and employing cover crops to recycle nutrients and enhance soil resilience.

The article focuses on the importance of farmer intuition in deciding cover crop strategies, highlighting the need for cover crops to deliver economic benefits while also addressing soil health and conservation goals through targeted crop mixtures and effective management practices.

The article focuses on the challenges and benefits of implementing cover crops in farming, emphasizing the need for practical and economically viable approaches. Topics include the selection of cover crop species, the development of online tools to assist farmers in decision-making, and the importance of cover crops in mitigating climate change and improving soil health.

The article focuses on the 30th anniversary celebration of Farm Press honoring U.S. cotton producers for regenerative cotton production. Topics include the dedication of award winners like Andy Wendland for stewardship and teamwork in the Southeast, Edward Greer's multi-generational farming approach in the Midsouth, and Richard Gaona's innovative techniques like skip-row planting in the Southwest.

The article discusses the challenges and benefits of maintaining vegetation year-round in crop fields, particularly in regions with limited moisture and extreme temperatures like West Texas. It mentions the ongoing research on regenerative agriculture systems aimed at reducing wind erosion and increasing soil resilience, emphasizing the importance of moisture management and crop selection in achieving sustainable outcomes.

The article highlights the 2024 High Cotton award winners from four different regions, celebrating their dedication to sustainable cotton production practices and exemplary leadership in the industry. It emphasizes the importance of teamwork, generational farming, innovative techniques, and community service, showcasing the diverse strategies and challenges faced by cotton producers across the United States.

The article discusses how cropping evolution has made Klemp Farms in Indiana healthier and more productive. Topics include earlier approach of conventional corn, conventional tillage and minimal change in the farm, increase in income by planting non-GMO corn, increase in cover crop acres with focus on soil health, and increase in bean yield.

The article discusses how to go on planting cover crops which makes agronomic practice successful. It talks about how no-till seeding can control erosion as per the soybean producer Myron Sylling, cover crops of frost-seeding rye and oats with rape resulting in the increase in organic matter (OM) in the soil and therefore, improving soil health.

The article offers insights from Illinois farmer John Werries and his son, Dean, about the benefits of cover crops. Topics discussed include the Werrieses' decision to become cover crops dealers in 2011, their use of cover crops to prevent soil erosion, and their deep commitment to the 4 R's of nutrient stewardship. Also mentioned are the different types of cover crops.

The article describes the strategies used by Gail Fuller of Fuller Farms in Kansas to regenerate healthy soils at a faster pace for producing nutrient-rich food. It discusses the advantages of the move by Fuller to plant 60 to 70 cover crop species and to seed annual cash crops and annual cover crops into dormant perennial pastures. It also explores the lessons he learned about soil conservation and putting carbon back into soil.

The article presents the discussion on greater control over the factors of production resulting in separation of crop and animal husbandry. Topics include recommendations leading to things like continuous corn, pure alfalfa, corn-soybean, and wheat-fallow; and animals causing detrimental soil compaction, or willing the manure, urine, and grazing habits.

The article suggests to choose a cover crop to meet production goal. Topics discussed include the main reason Oklahoma farmers plant cover crops in row crop areas according to Oklahoma State University Cropping System Specialist Josh Lofton, options for row crops and erosion control according to Lofton, and his caution for farmers to be wary of trying too many unproven species.

The article features Cole Viramontes, a farmer and co-owner of Viramontes Farms in Deming, New Mexico. Topics discussed include his decision to grow Prima cotton for the first time in 2022 in southwest Mexico after his father gave up on it years ago, his use of regenerative agriculture practices to grow a variety of crops, and his view on regenerative agriculture.

The article focuses on rethinking Profitability.

The article focuses on challenges faced by farmers to meet nitrogen loading reduction goals. Topics discussed include gap found by Tom Buman, founder of Agren, between application rates and projected needs under Iowa's Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS), reduction of nitrogen loading through corn-soybean rotation by farmers, and farmer Wayne Fredericks' views on using strip till, no-till and cover crops to build soil health.

The article features Matt Griggs, head of operations for their family farm in west Tennessee. Topics discussed include his comments on how soil science professor Doctor Bob Duck influenced his thinking about soil conservation, improvements in his infiltration rates for cover crops after implementing various soil conservation techniques, and his views on high biomass and soil improvement.

Great Plains has introduced new options for its Turbo-Max and Terra-Max lines of tillage tools for the 2023 model year. The VT1100 Turbo-Max now offers a rear double-basket attachment and round-bar reels, which were requested by customers. The HT1100 Terra-Max line has expanded with smaller models and the addition of the TS9100 Turbo Seeder. Great Plains has also partnered with Bayer's ForGround to support the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices, including transitioning from full tillage to no-till. The partnership will include agronomic research and provide benefits to ForGround members when purchasing Great Plains box drills. [Extracted from the article]

Weather, as is the case for farmers everywhere, is a constant issue."We had a double-digit snowfall that blanketed my unharvested crop the week before I left for this tour", Haugen says. Farmers from the U.S. Midwest and West who participated in the recent National Cotton Council Multi-Commodity Education Program (MCEP) tour found practices and issues common across diverse regions.Jamie Kress, the only female farmer on the tour, farms 7,500 acres of wheat, safflower, mustard, and pulses with her husband, Cory, in Rockland, Idaho.She expressed surprise at how some of the cotton agronomic conversations she had with Mid-South growers had cross-over relevance to her grain operation. I'm honored and a little overwhelmed at the opportunity", Kress says.

Dennis Haugen

The article discusses the contribution of no-till farming in nitrate leaching into streams and lakes. Topics discussed include meta-analysis of research which compared nitrate concentration between no-till runoff and conventional tillage, the variability of nitrate loads and concentrations by soils, and ways to reduce nitrate loss from fields including intercropping, cover crops and crop rotations with perennial crops.

The article focuses on the suggestion by farmers Clay Lowe and Zeb Winslow at the North Carolina small Agricultural Consultants 2023 Fall Conference at the Hampton Inn Crabtree in Raleigh on December 7 for farmers to use a take it slow approach when adapting a cover crop program. Topics include their guidance provided for planting and managing cover crops, their use of rye and hairy vetch in their cover crop program, and the importance of having a plan and knowing what one wants to do.

The article presents the discussion on plant parasitic nematodes. Topics include minimizing nematode losses in trials being conducted at AAES research centers and units located throughout the state; and many of the clovers are good host for the nematodes as well and can keep nematode numbers high in the spring.

The article focuses on the significance of carbon intensity scores for farmers delivering crops to ethanol plants, where a higher score might lead to rejection, while a lower score could yield premiums. It reports on the new provision incentivizing biofuel producers to invest in carbon capture. It emphasizes the need for farmers to understand and improve their carbon intensity scores to capitalize on potential financial benefits.

Moore explains that today's applicators are using GPS for precision spraying as much as farmers do, combined with software that knows when a plane's application will hit just the right spot during spraying."We're seeing more automation in that regard", Moore says. Additionally, there's growing tech for finding other plant issues, including disease and insect infestations.

The changing plane

Not crop dusters

One of the greatest strategic challenges for producers planting cover crops is termination. But if the cover crop is not uniform, termination timing should take into account those major weeds, along with weeds that are also troublesome such as henbit, marestail, kochia and others, Gibson says. "Cover crops under moisture stress are more difficult to control because the leaf cuticle is more difficult for herbicides to penetrate, resulting in less activity in the weed, as well as less translocation to the weed's root system. [Extracted from the article]

Miller also knows that it's important to increase nitrogen in starter fertilizer for corn if it follows a cover crop that ties up a lot of carbon, like cereal rye. After wheat One reason Miller likes wheat in his rotation is so he can come in with a multispecies cover crop mix early, often in late August. Keith Miller was excited when he walked into his cover crop field following wheat in September. [Extracted from the article]

Miller believes no-tilling with cover crops makes it easier to avoid creating soil compaction and allowing compacted layers to compound over time. Why water infiltration matters When Miller pulls out corresponding soil samples, one from conventional tillage and one from his no-till field, the point of the water bottle show and tell becomes crystal clear. Keith Miller, Elkhart County, Ind., didn't just wake up one day and decide to no-till and use cover crops. [Extracted from the article]

Beyond doubt, cover crops are the hot topic in farmer meetings across the country right now. USDA continues to encourage cover crops while universities continue their research on the costs and benefits of using cover crops. Frame said another hurdle to the adoption of cover crops in Virginia is few retailers sell cover crop seed, except for small grain seed. [Extracted from the article]