Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
Lisa Kubik farms with her family in Traer, Iowa, where they grow corn, soybeans, and cereal rye for ryelage, as well as raise Kiko goats and 100 head commercial cow-calf herd. In the fall, the Kubiks’ cattle graze 60 acres of their cereal rye cover crop. 
 
Drilling vs. aerial application: When seeding covers to graze in the fall, their methods include aerial seeding and drilling after corn silage or soybeans. “We prefer drilling, but we can get in a lot earlier with aerial,” says Lisa. “Drilling is a more reliable method to achieve a good stand, and it works better the earlier you can get it planted, but aerial seeding guarantees early planting.” 
 
When they graze: Their cows come off of pastures in late October or early November, and are turned out on the cover crops to graze for 2-3 weeks. During this period the only supplemental feed they receive is a protein tub. 
 
Value of grazing covers: Lisa hasn’t crunched the numbers on the feed value of their cover crops, but she definitely sees value in the 2-3 weeks of additional grazing for 100 head. The cattle reap the benefit of grazing a protein-rich green cover alongside the corn stalks and bean stubble. Lisa adds that some value is hard to put a number on, “some of the benefits we see are improved soil health, reduced erosion and reduced compaction from the cattle, which isn’t necessarily quantifiable.”
PROGRAM UPDATES
Practical Farmers of Iowa’s cover crop cost-share can be stacked on publicly funded cover crop cost-share such as EQIP, or the $5/acre cover crop insurance premium discount!

Farmers in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, and parts of South Dakota and Missouri are likely eligible!

Apply here today or call the PFI office to learn more and apply: (515) 232-5661
Apply through Oct. 7 for conservation program funding through the Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

Submit applications through your local NRCS office to make sure you are considered for funding for next year!
With input costs rising and cutting into your farm’s profits, it’s time to look at reducing your reliance on purchased inputs. 

With support from our staff and a yield-warranty, PFI can help you reduce nitrogen applications on your farm – saving you money and increasing your farm’s resiliency.

Farmers who are new to cutting purchased inputs and farmers who’ve reduced nitrogen previously are both eligible for our program.
IN THE FIELD
Revisit this magazine article from 2021 that highlights the economic value of grazing cover crops from different farmer perspectives. 

Learn about different cover crop mixes for grazing cattle, contract grazing and more.
Do you have covers but no grazing animals? 

The Midwest Grazing Exchange enables you to connect with someone who has grazing animals to increase nutrient cycling on your farm!
This 2020 research report shares findings from six PFI cooperators about the economic return farms are able to glean from grazing cover crops.

Profits averaged $76.48/ac from grazing cover crops! Farmers were able to see economic benefits in one year’s time.
Additional resources
UPCOMING EVENTS
All events below are listed in central daylight time.
October 12: Webinar - Stewards of the Land
Hosted by: Soil Regen & Loran Steinlage
Noon-1 p.m. | Online

October 12: Webinar - Iowa Learning Farms Webinar
Hosted by: Iowa Learning Farms & Laura Alt
Noon-1 p.m. | Online

October 19: Webinar - Iowa Learning Farms Webinar
Hosted by: Iowa Learning Farms & Prashant Jha
Noon-1 p.m. | Online
Hosted by: Iowa Learning Farms
1-2 p.m. | Online

October 26: Webinar - Iowa Learning Farms Webinar
Hosted by: Iowa Learning Farms & Matt Nowatzke
Noon-1 p.m. | Online

October 26: Webinar - Cover Crop Specialist Call
Hosted by: Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership
9-10 a.m. | Online
Want to host a cover crop meet up? Are you planning or hosting a cover crop event? Contact taylor.hintch@practicalfarmers.org to plan something or to promote your event.
COVER CROP POLL
Send us your cover crop poll ideas! We want to know what YOU want to know. Reply to this email with your ideas for the next poll.
Would you ever consider contract grazing on your cover crops?
Yes, I already contract graze my cover crop acres
Yes, I’d consider but haven’t tried it yet
I’m interested but I don’t have fencing
No, I graze my own acres and need all the forage I can get
No, I’m not interested
Previous poll results:
Which of these session topics for the PFI Annual Conference sound the most interesting to you?

  • Cover crops and herbicide carryover - 43.5%
  • Cover crop seeding and equipment - 21.7%
  • On-farm composting - 26.1%
  • Flame weeding - 8.7%
CONTACT OUR COVER CROPS TEAM
Lydia English
Field Crops Viability Manager
(515) 232-5661
Chris Wilbeck
Independent Contractor
(515) 232-5661
Rebecca Clay
Field Crops Viability Coordinator
(515) 232-5661
Taylor Hintch
Field Crops Education Coordinator
(515)-232-5661