A common concern growers may have when they move to a no-till system is nutrient stratification.Without tillage to mix fertilizer into the soil, no-tillers may wonder whether the nutrients applied to the...
If someone asked you, “How do plants take up the water and nutrients they need?” you’d probably tell them through the roots. But did you know that for many crops, those roots aren’t working alone?That’s...
FARM WALKS WITH THE SOIL FARMERS OF THE YEAR 2018The winners of the FCCT Soil Farmer of the Year competition opened their gates over four days and provided a veritable masterclass in managing soils. Spanning...
When it comes to creating a cover crop mix, the options are endless. You need to determine what kind of species you’ll use, how many you’ll use, and at what seeding rates. For anyone new to cover crop...
Grasses like cereal rye are a good species for beginning cover crop users as they grow fast and have fibrous roots. Photo by Stephen Ausmus, USDA Agricultural Research Service.
In 1995, Pennsylvania farmer Steve Groff was speaking at an event when he asked the audience the question: Do cover crops pay off?His thinking at the time was that he had been no-tilling since 1982, and...
When you picture what’s happening below ground in your fields, you probably imagine a web of roots branching out to provide your crops support, nutrients and water. But root growth isn’t the only thing...
Black oats are an excellent choice for beginning cover croppers.
It's a fact: cover crops tend to make good farmers into great farmers and average farmers into bad farmers. Cover crops work. But, management is key and the learning curve can be steep. If you've been sitting...
As we learn more about what goes on in the world beneath our feet, increased attention has been placed on soil organic matter.And for good reason. While it only makes up a small percentage of most soils,...
Part 1: Know Your True Cost of Production Why Your TCOP Matters How to Calculate Your TCOP Part 2: Take the Emotions Out of Your Marketing Plan Why You Need a Plan How to Create a Marketing Matrix How to...
Some growers may have had no option but to plant green — as shown above — into their cover crops this year because of poor weather conditions. In this photo by Ted Kornecki, USDA Agricultural Research Service, the farmer is terminating his cereal rye with a roller at the same time he is planting his cotton.
With May 2018 to April 2019 being the wettest 12-month period on record, according to NOAA, many farmers across the nation were forced to delay planting. In fact, for the first time on record, less than...
Photo Credit: Jay Brandt
Our 31 Days of Cover Crops Photo Contest has now come to a close. We want to thank everyone who participated in this year’s contest including those who submitted entries and those who voted for their...
This article is part of a series on biological control and Integrated Pest Management written by UAV-IQ (www.uaviq.com). In agriculture, input distribution companies are essential stakeholders for their...
You probably know that having a crop rotation is a good thing. Growing different crops back to back provides several benefits, such as preventing pests and disease, improving soil health and reducing fertilizer...
Experts warn that growing continuous peanuts or other legumes close in rotation to the peanut crop can have detrimental effects on peanuts — namely soilborne diseases. This includes leguminous cover crops. Photo by Jack Dykinga, USDA Agricultural Research Service
It’s common knowledge among peanut farmers that the farther out you space your peanut crops in your rotation, the better off the peanuts will be. Research backs this up. Jason Sarver, Extension Peanut...
Welcome to AgFuse’s fourth year of hosting a 31 Days of Cover Crops Photo Contest! This is a fun time for each of us to share our favorite cover crop photos. There will be three winners with the first...
While there are numerous reasons for using cover crops, a primary one is improving soil health.In fact, it’s the one benefit most farmers using cover crops have experienced: In the most recent Cover Crop...
If you’re a farmer, at some point you’ll likely experience a late harvest, whether it’s due to Mother Nature or an equipment problem. And if you plan on seeding your cover crops after your crops are...
Many farmers across the U.S. experienced wet weather last growing season. According to NOAA, the 12-month period between July 2018 and June 2019 set the precipitation record in the U.S. with an average...
Pea, used as a weeding tool, besides its effectiveness, progressively shows all its agronomic advantages in a rotation
From Direct Driller Magazine: Issue 2Written by Frédéric ThomasLike many farmers, Michel Mercier first got into direct drilling based on the economic savings it offered. He first worked with an SE Horsch...
Direct Driller Magazine Issue 4 Direct Driller Issue 4 is out now! You can read the digital version here: Direct Driller - Issue 4 - January 2019 The first 3 issues have had a great reception and we hope...
It can be read here and you will see it has grown to 100 pages, which is where we expect it to stay going forward. Direct Driller Issue 3 Issue 3 Of Direct Driller magazine. The conservation agriculture...
Mulch is one of the most versatile and cost-effective materials that can be used to improve a property. It is a multi-purpose material that is used to conserve moisture in the soil, keep it cooler, reduce...
If you’ve considered using cereal rye as a cover crop in front of corn, you’ve probably been warned that your yield would suffer.And the truth is it might. Research has shown that corn yields can take...
Wet conditions across the country forced many farmers to forgo their plans for the season and take prevented planting payments instead. The USDA says that as of July 8, 2019, its paid roughly $184 million...
Here's the first-place entry from the Accidental Agronomist.
The 2019 edition of our “31 Days of Cover Crops Photo Contest” has ended. We received many great entries and want to thank everyone for their participation. As previously detailed, we will award three...
AgFuse is excited to announce our third year of hosting a fun photo contest and we want you to be a part of it. There will be three winners with the first prize being a $200 gift card to Amazon! The second...
A multi-species blend of wheat, vetch, winter peas and clover that was planted in October.
In the past few years, we have made a concerted effort to increase the usage of cover crops and other conservation practices on our farm. I have learned a lot of lessons from this experience but one stands...
Middle Tennessee State University soil scientist Samuel Haruna analyzes a soil sample from his research fields to see how cover crops impact soil temperature. Photo provided by Samuel Haruna.
You can pick the right seed, use the right equipment, apply the right inputs, and plant at the right depth, but without the right soil temperature, your crops are likely to struggle. One practice that can...
When it comes to cover crops and nutrient management, a lot of the focus is on what cover crops can do for soil fertility. Depending on the species being used, they can prevent leftover nutrients from running...
On the Hardwick brothers' Somerset Plantation, they do a lot of variety trials with seed companies, which helps them determine which hybrids to plant next year. In this photo they are finishing planting their corn variety trials. Photo from the Hardwicks.
With last year’s season completed and this year’s yet to begin, now is a natural time to reflect on your farm’s performance and how you can improve in the future. One way to make your decision-making...
Despite the fact that there is near-guaranteed job security, thanks to booming population growth, many beginning farmers face seemingly insurmountable obstacles to bringing a product to market. In this...
Technology has been an integral part of agriculture since at least 5,000 years ago, documented through the use of ploughs in ancient Sumeria. Today, drone and GPS farming is old news.Still, some in the...
This high-clearance sprayer makes variable-rate nitrogen applications to corn based on sensor readings. The sensors monitor plant stresses that are frequently related to nitrogen status. Photo by Peggy Greb, USDA ARS.
For growers who are trying to follow the “4Rs” of nutrient stewardship — applying the right fertilizer source at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place, as set forth by The Fertilizer...
In late 2018, a new farm bill was passed that legalized the production of hemp as an agricultural commodity while also removing it from the list of “controlled substances”. The Gold Rush of the modern...
Jason Mauck's intercropped soybeans growing between 19-inch quad rows of wheat. By focusing on the wheat for capturing nutrients, suppressing weeds and feeding soil life vs. high yields, Mauck has seen over 100-bushel soybeans with significant input savings. Photo by Jason Mauck.
In Gaston, Ind., Jason Mauck is farming a little differently from his neighbors. Unlike the typical corn-and-soybean monocropping system, for the last 5 years Mauck has been doing low population, wide-row...
Ben Franklin once said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." -This practice can be applied to many aspects of your life and business, and certainly applies to irrigation on your farm and money...
Ag-Analytics® (https://analytics.ag/uav) announced the launch of its long-awaited fully remote, on-demand UAV Service – a custom flight service to assist farmers by providing fast, cost-effective UAV...
May through July offered an excellent opportunity to start our hedge campaign for 2019. In light of the next to impossible early planting conditions throughout the corn belt, the prices somehow, are right...
There is no shortage of great apps to help farmers in 2020. As farming gets more digital, tech savvy farmers are craving tools that can help them do their jobs more efficiently and better. This list compiles...
On December 19, 2019, Treasury released the final regulations for the much-discussed Opportunity Zone program. Overall, these final regulations did a great job of answering most of the open farming & agribusiness...
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