Cover crops in processing crops
2015
- UW Madison
Project Media
Cover crops are increasingly recognized for their multiple agronomic benefits, including improving soil quality and health, enhancing soil fertility, and preventing erosion. Choosing cover crops for a particular farming system requires consideration of several factors, including planting window, termination time and strategy, desired functionality (weed suppression, erosion prevention, nitrogen credits), and potential disease and insect interactions. Resources exist to assist farmers in the selection of appropriate cover crops for their specific system and crop rotations. The Midwest Cover Crop Council has created one of the most extensive sources of information regarding cover crops for the upper Midwest; comprised of a diverse group of academia, farmers, non-governmental organizations, and state and federal agency representatives, this group works to provide materials on cover crop practices and opportunities, including farmer profiles, webinars, and field days. The information is housed on their website, www.mccc.msu.edu.