The Practical Cover Cropper: Nov 30 Boot camp on cutting costs with cover crops

Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.

Uncertainties about herbicide supply and upward trends in nitrogen fertilizer prices cause us to think about what other tools we can use to suppress weeds and feed our crops. These topics and more will be discussed at our upcoming Cover Crop Boot Camp on November 29 and 30 in Ankeny!

Brandon McHugh is one of the boot camp speakers. The Dunlap, IA farmer will share his experiences with using cover crops to omit a pre-emerge pass and the corresponding residual herbicide product.

When asked what he is looking forward to at the boot camp, Brandon replied, “I like to experiment with different things on my farm, but it is easiest when I can learn from mistakes others have made. It is better to talk to someone and network with them than to just read about it in a magazine.”

PROGRAM UPDATES

The 2021 Fall Cover Crop Boot Camp Nov. 29 and 30 in Ankeny, IA. The evening of Monday Nov. 29 we'll gather for a social and keynote at Uptown Garage Brewing.

Sessions on Tuesday, Nov. 30 will explore how farmers are using cover crops to reduce nitrogen and herbicide inputs, grow their own cover crop seed and integrate livestock with cover crops.

Have you applied for PFI's cost share yet?

Even if you haven't been eligible for cover crop cost share in past years, you might be now! Click on the grain icons at this link to learn more about eligibility.

We still have acres available for most cost share programs; please share with neighbors and friends! We also have cost share for extended rotations.

Fill out the application

Nebraskans: Apply for conservation programs by Nov. 19!

Nebraska farmers wanting to implement conservation practices can receive technical and financial support from the Conservation Stewardship Program and Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Visit your local NRCS office to determine if you are eligible, and submit initial paperwork by Nov. 19!

Raise seed corn in 2021 and seeding cover crops this fall? Sign up for Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop cost share!

The Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative provides cost share for cover crops on seed corn production acres, with $10 to $20 per acre rates.

Growers can enroll up to 100% of their seed corn acres that aren't already in another state or federal cost-share program.

Learn more about the program here or contact Shannon Moeller at shannon.moeller16@gmail.com.

IN THE FIELD

Blog: Think it's too late to seed cover crops? Four observations show you still have time!

Read the blog on Wade Dooley's proof-of-concept on seeding cereal rye late into the fall and even into early spring.

Wade provides observations and tips for meeting your goals when seeding late.

Research: How does late seeding of rye affect growth, corn yield soil health?

Cooperators Jon Bakehouse of Hastings, IA; Monty Douglas of Lenox, IA; Alec Amundson of Osage, IA; and Camden Watson of Sully, IA explored how seeding date and rate of a cereal rye cover crop affect rye growth

They found that seeding rye later compared to earlier resulted in less biomass and, in some cases, higher corn yield following. Read the full research report here.