Cover Crops

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Informational Cover Crop Articles & Links

Integrating Cover Crops and Manure Yield and Nitrogen Effects

Two year study on cover crop establishment, yield and termination done by the U of M Extension.

Soil Organic Matter in Cropping Systems

Soil organic matter matters!

Soil organic matter

• maintains a healthy, productive soil by providing food and a home for microbes.

• protects our soils - a non-renewable resource -  from erosion losses.

Practices that build and maintain soil organic matter result in a number of benefits. A healthy soil

• captures and filters water.

• retains nutrients and makes them available for plant update.

• provides the housing for the vast beneficial and diverse soil organisms.

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Midwest Cover Crop Planning Tool

Cover Crop Decision Tools to assist farmers in selecting cover crops to include in field crop and vegetable rotations.

Rye Grass Following Silage Harvest

U of W Extension & U of W Madison article on the benefits of cover crop forage as well as nitrate improvements in the soil.

Herbicides and Cover Crops

U of M Extension article on managing risk when using herbicides on cover crops in corn and soybean.

Herbicide Use On Cover Crops if Grazing

Iowa State University article on the importance for livestock producers to consider restrictions on labels of herbicides used earlier in the growing season if they intend to use the cover crop as a forage source.

NRCS Soil Health Webpage

Information, studies, videos from the USDA on the benefits of soil health.

Investing in Soil Health Pays

Successful Farming article on Cover Crops.