Cover Crops

Soybean seedlings in no-till field — Figure 1. With almost 100% residue cover, this soil surface is protected from raindrop impact, greatly reducing erosion and crusting. The residue will also reduce evaporation by keeping the sun and wind off the soil surface. (Photos by Paul Jasa)

Building Resilient Soil Systems using Residue, No-till, and Cover Crops

March 29, 2018

Crop residue, cover crops, and no-till farming practices can provide a positive buffering effect to changes in climate and extreme weather events. Together they can help keep more water and soil on-farm and contribute to improved soil health.

Figure 1. Rye cover crop planted in small sections of field for erosion control. Center photo shows a section of ground where cover crop did not establish with normally developing plants. Damaged corn plants were primarily restricted to areas where cover crop was present.

Wheat Stem Maggot in Corn: Plan on Scouting Your Cover Crop Fields This Spring

March 8, 2018

Wheat stem maggots were an issue for some eastern and southern Nebraska farmers planting corn directly into a growing cover crop, leading to questions about how to best manage this scenario in 2018. Learn why entomologists don't recommend adding an insecticide to the herbicide when terminating the cover crop.

Figure 1. Grazing cover crops planted after corn harvest can be a win-win situation for both crop and livestock producers. An April 4 Nebraska Extension field day will explore some of the challenges and opportunities and showcase recent university research on implementing the system in eastern Nebraska.

April 4 Conference to Focus on Capturing Value of Cover Crops as Forages

March 7, 2018

A Nebraska Extension conference and field day, “Capturing Value in Cropping Systems using Cattle,” will offer a unique learning and networking opportunity for cattle and crop producers in eastern Nebraska.

Market Journal Looks at Farm Bill Discussions

March 2, 2018

This week's Market Journal looks at two key programs affecting farm management: the Farm Bill that's currently in production and crop insurance. Other speakers look at the grain markets, cover crop research, and the forecast for next week.

Cover Crop and CO2 Emissions

February 26, 2018

Do cover crops affect CO2 emissions from the soil and if so, under what conditions? These were among the questions addressed by university researchers monitoring CO2 emissions from cereal rye cover crops in irrigated and dryland no-till continuous corn treatments.

Don Batie with his strip-till soybean plot.

Growers Share about Their On-Farm Research

February 21, 2018

Three growers — Don Batie of Lexington, Ken Herz of Lawrence, and Derek Dam of Hooper — share what they learned from conducting on-farm research in 2017. Hear from other growers and learn how you can participate at Nebraska On-Farm Research Network Updates this week in Grant and Alliance.

Rain-Fed Corn Growth and Development Following Cover Crops in 2017

February 13, 2018

Researchers in south central Nebraska examined potential effects of planting rye and a rye-mix cover crop following wheat and prior to corn in rain-fed conditions. Based on their findings, they offer two take-home messages for cover crop growers.

Soil health summer field days — Figure 1. While it's too early to examine soil health differences in the field, it's the right time to learn how to start improving soil health and soil quality at the March 5 Southeast Nebraska Soil Health Conference.

Southeast Nebraska Soil Health Conference March 5

February 12, 2018

Soil health, cover crops, manure use, and grazing annual forages (cover crops) will be among the topics at the Southeast Nebraska Soil Health Conference Monday, March 6 in Syracuse. Registrations are due by Feb. 27.

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