Cover Crops

Aug. 1 Deadline for MFP Aid for Planting Cover Crops

July 26, 2019
Producers affected by natural disasters who filed prevented planting claims may be eligible for a $15 per acre payment for planting MFP-eligible cover crops by Aug. 1, 2019. This can be used in conjunction with the NRCS cost-share program.

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New SARE Resource Examines Economics of Cover Crops in Row Crops

July 16, 2019
A new publication from USDA Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education (SARE), Cover Crop Economics: Opportunities to Improve Your Bottom Line in Row Crops, looks at the economics of cover crops in corn and soybean rotations to help farmers answer that big question: When do cover crops pay?

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Farmer field testing two cover crop management options

Farmers Find Solutions Through Nebraska Soil Health Initiative

July 11, 2019
How can we manage cropland to improve soil health? To test and encourage adoption of soil health practices, the Soil Health Demonstration Initiative was launched as a collaborative effort of growers, UNL and NRCS. Now a network of farm research sites is providing valuable information from in-field studies.

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Field of diverse cover crops
Field of diverse cover crops

Cover Crop Use and Implications for Cropland Lease Arrangements in 2019

July 8, 2019
Cover crops were planted on almost 750,000 acres in Nebraska in 2017, the last year of the USDA Ag Census. A recent Cornhusker Economics reports cover crop acreage by county as well as how to consider their short-term costs and potential long-term benefits when negotiating crop land leases.

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Cover crop mix in the field

Deadline Extended to Apply for Funding to Plant Cover Crops on Flooded Cropland Acres

June 28, 2019
NRCS announced today that it is offering a later EQIP sign-up for farmers in Nebraska who could not plant their crops because of flooded or wet fields. The deadline to apply is July 19, 2019.

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Unplanted acres with corn residue

Check Herbicide Restrictions before Planting and Using Cover Crops

June 28, 2019
Cover crops offer many benefits for prevented planting fields; however, including them in a rotation adds another layer of complexity, particularly when it comes to plant-back restrictions for previously applied herbicides. Here's what to check before selecting a cover crop species.

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On flood-damged fields cover crops offer benefits as a soil cover and rebuilder as well as a source of forage.
On flood-damged fields cover crops offer benefits as a soil cover and rebuilder as well as a source of forage.

NRCS Recommendations for Growing Corn as a Cover Crop

June 28, 2019
Corn is considered a cover crop species in Nebraska and can be planted into prevented planting acres and can be grazed or harvested for forage. See these NRCS recommendations for meeting guidelines when using corn as a cover crop.

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Figure 1. This wheat field just off the Cedar River near Fullerton has 4-6 inches of sediment from spring flooding. Prevented planting and cover crops can help protect against soil erosion and provide feed for cattle. (Photo by Megan Taylor)
Figure 1. This wheat field just off the Cedar River near Fullerton has 4-6 inches of sediment from spring flooding. Prevented planting and cover crops can help protect against soil erosion and provide feed for cattle. (Photo by Megan Taylor)

Prevented Planting and Cover Crops

June 21, 2019
This week when the USDA Risk Management Agency changed the deadline for grazing, cutting, or haying cover crops planted on prevented planting acres to Sept. 1, new options opened up for selecting cover crops to best meet the end use and to provide higher quality feed for cattle. Learn about what to consider when selecting cover crops and how your choices can affect prevented planting payments.

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