Cover Crops

Cover crops

Different cover crop mixes can have substantially different impact(s) on soil quality and physical properties.

2016 Farmer Survey

Nebraska Cover Crops: What, Where, and How: A brief summary of survey results
Full Report on Survey of Cover Crop Use with Nebraska Farmers

In Crop and Forage Systems

Cover Crop Interviews with Local Producers. Two interviews with local producers from southeast Nebraska that use cover crops and explain how they are using them and benefits they are seeing from using them.
2020 Southeast Nebraska Soil Health Conference Recording. The 2020 Southeast Nebraska Soil Health Conference - "Feeding Our Below and Above Ground Livestock" was held on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 in Hickman, NE.
Cover Crops and Ecosystem Services: Insights from Studies in Temperate Soils. An Agronomy Journal review by UNL agronomists of cover crop research conducted by multiple universities, shining light on the science behind how cover crops affect the ecosystems where they are used.
Cover Crops for Prevented Planting Acres — Benefits, suitable cover crops for eastern Nebraska, cost-benefit estimates; cover crop seed suppliers, prevented planting payments and cover crops
Study Initiated on Cover Crops in Corn and Soybean Systems
Corn and Soybean Herbicide Options in the Spring for Planting Cover Crops for Forage in the Fall
Long-term UNL Study Examines Impacts of Cover Crops on Soil, Water
Nebraska On-Farm Research: Five 2014 Studies Show Varied Results
Research Update: Winter Cover Crop Soil Nitrate-N Conservation After Seed Corn Production
Cover Crops for Storm-Damaged Fields
Cover Crop Options after Corn or Soybean Harvest
When Herbicide Labels Restrict Using Cover Crops as Forage
Double-Cropped Cool-Season Annuals (Cover Crops) for Late Fall and Early Spring Forage, links to related UNL articles
Dryland Cover Crops as a Grazing Option for Beef Cattle, 2014 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report
Cover Crops Following Weather-damaged Bean and Corn Harvests
Rental Agreements for Cover Crop Grazing

Also see UNL's Beef.unl.edu for related information.

USDA SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) Resources

Cover Crops Topic Room. From selection and management to economics to pest management.
Cover Crop Innovator Series (video). Farmers describing how they integrated cover crops into cash crop operations.
Cover Crops for Sustainable Crop Rotations
Downloadable SARE Cover Crop Book, Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition.

Other States Cover Crop Resources

Tips and Considerations For Getting Started With Cover Crops (ISU Extension)

Other Resources

2016 Cover Crops Crop Insurance, Cover Crops and NRCS Cover Crop Termination Guidelines
USDA Cover Crop Chart — valuable information about different cover crop types
The Midwest Cover Crops Council Field Guide

Homemade interseeder — Figure 1. In 2019 in York County (left), the grower built his own interseeder and tested a nitrogen mix (4 lb/ac crimson clover, 3 lb/ac red clover, 2 lb/ac yellow sweet clover, 4 lb/ac Winterhawk annual ryegrass, 1.5 lb/ac impact forage collards, 1.5 lb/ac Trophy rapeseed) vs. diversity mix (2 lb/ac red clover, 2.5 lb/ac Hubam white seed clover, 4 lb/ac Winterhawk annual ryegrass, 1 lb/ac purple top turnip, 3 lb/ac golden flax, 0.5 lb/ac phacelia Angelia, 0.5 lb/ac chicory) interseeded at V5-V6 corn vs. check treatment. Seward County (right), a Hagie was used to broadcast interseed 10 lb/ac red clover and 5 lb/ac buckwheat into V6 corn vs. check treatment.

Results from Interseeding Cover Crops into Corn or Soybean

May 12, 2021

A summary of the studies conducted via Nebraska On-Farm Research and Soybean Management Field Days on interseeding cover crops into living corn and soybean.

Interseeding Cover Crops into Corn and Soybean: What We’ve Learned

May 6, 2021

Due to recent research efforts, Nebraska Extension educators expand recommendations on techniques and plant species used for interseeding cover crops in corn and soybeans.

Does Grazing Cover Crops Negatively Impact Soil and Crop Yields?

April 29, 2021

Grazing cover crops can be a potential option to re-integrate crops with livestock production and reverse the adverse effects of separating crops and livestock production, despite soil compaction concerns.

Broadleaf cover crop — When using a burndown herbicide to terminate broadleaf cover crops and weeds this spring, planting intervals often may negate the use of many 2,4-D products prior to Enlist E3® soybean planting. (Photos by Amit Jhala).

Which 2,4-D Product Should I Use as a Burndown Before Planting Enlist E3® Soybean?

April 29, 2021

A review of the best production options for growers who are preparing to terminate broadleaf cover crop species and winter annual broadleaf weeds using 2,4-D products.

Can Cover Crops Offset the Negative Impacts of Corn Silage?

April 28, 2021

UNL researchers discerned varied results from a study on reducing soil compaction and wind/water erosion on fields harvested for corn silage by planting cover crops.

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