Cover Crops

What is a cover crop?

A cover crop is used when there is no cash crop growing in a field. They are used to help hold soil to reduce wind and water erosion.

What are the benefits of cover crops, and how do I associate gain from the costs?

They hold available nutrients in your soil from leaving in water run-off or loss through the atmosphere.
Cover crops help to provide a living root system the entire year.
In use with no-till cover crops will help the water infiltration your soil is able take, and its water holding capacity.
Another benefit to cover crops is the ability to graze livestock on them in periods where forage is dormant.
In association with no-till cover crops will help with weed suppression if managed correctly.

What is no-till farming?

No-till farming is a practice where the ground is not tilled in any way prior to planting. It is achieved by using no-till planters and drills with heavy down pressure springs.

How is no-till farming beneficial to me and my soil?

No-till reduces the amount of disturbance on the soil, and lets the microbes, earth worms, and other beneficial insects who reside in it continue to thrive.
By not tilling your soil, it leaves root paths, worm holes, and structure under the soil allowing water to infiltrate easier throughout the soil structure.
When using no-till and cover crops together, you can reduce weed pressure at planting time and throughout the growing season without the need for herbicides.
No-till makes for grazing livestock easier in wetter periods. Not having to trek through mucky mud will cut down on the calories burned a day in your stock, letting you get the most out of your forages.

For more information regarding cover crops, no-till ideas and concepts for increasing your farms soil health give us a call, or send us and email today!