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Growing cover crops in otherwise fallow fields can prevent erosion, improve soil health, provide forage and help control weeds. The information below can help you make informed decisions on when, where, and how to plant cover crops. We also listed other things to take into consideration when including cover crops in your farming system.

The related articles at the bottom of the page are weekly published short stories on all things cover crops and soil health.

Related Articles

Research team gather samples in field
Graduate students Grace Emperatriz Pacheco Jiron (left), Bridget McKinley, and Vesh R. Thapa, UNL postdoctoral research associate, gather forage samples at PREEC cover crop plots. (Photo by Chabella Guzman)

Cover Crop Initiative Project has First Field Day in Western Nebraska

May 25, 2023
The project is a four-year collaboration between UNL and NRCS to identify the best-suited cover crop species and varieties for unique eco-regions across the state of Nebraska.

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Musk thistle
Musk thistle control should be done in spring when plants are in their short rosette growth form, as herbicides are ineffective after the flowering stage.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Equipment Maintenance, Controlling Musk Thistle and No-Till on the Plains Tours

May 11, 2023
This week, extension educators review a checklist for pre-season hay equipment maintenance, tips for controlling musk thistle in pastures, and details of this year's No-Till on the Plains Whirlwind tours in June.

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Interseeding video intro
It’s important to plan ahead of time and know your goals when adding cover crops to your operation. In this article, Nebraska Extension evaluates numerous cover crop species and provides guidance on how to choose the species that will best fit your production needs. This video shares additional information on cover crop species used.

Interseeding Cover Crops into Early Season Corn and Soybean: Species Selection

April 27, 2023
In this article, Nebraska Extension evaluates numerous cover crop species for interseeding and provides guidance on how to choose the species that will best fit your production needs.

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Soybean interseeded in wheat

Herbicide Considerations When Interseeding Cover Crops

April 20, 2023
UNL Extension professionals provide insights on timing and volume of herbicide applications for interseeded cover crops to help producers avoid germination and plant establishment issues this growing season.  

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Interseeded cover crops

On-Farm Research Early-season Interseeding into Corn and Soybean Results (2019-2022)

April 13, 2023
The final results of a three-year study on interseeding cover crops in early-season corn and soybean include observations on yield, soil quality and net return.

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