Before you put your garden to bed, consider giving it a winter blanket—aka, a cover crop. Sowed in the fall, these cold-hardy plants work hard to improve soil throughout winter by decreasing ...

To maintain soil that produces successful crops, it helps to give it a rest now and then.That's what cover crops are all about. They prevent erosion, retain moisture, suppress weeds, reduce compaction ...

Cover crops play an important role in protecting the soil and water when cash crops like corn or soybean are not actively growing. The National Conservation Service promoted the use of cover crops ...

Government incentives, spurred by climate change fears, will likely nudge you toward reduced tillage programs and cover crops in the near future. On-farm tests conducted by Farm Journal field ...

From mild winters to heavier equipment, farmers face several uncontrollable factors, adding layers to the soil compaction problem. “Our winters have been milder, and snowfall has been lighter in ...

Hello Mid-Ohio Valley Farmers and Gardeners! Hard to believe that Monday celebrated Labor Day, the end of summer here in the Valley. Many backyard gardeners are out there preserving the harvest by ...

Farmers for Soil Health resumes enrollment with higher payments and shorter contracts, while Minnesota's low-interest loan ...

Cover crops are important in areas cultivated year after year. They reduce soil erosion and improve its overall health. As spring heats the soil, cover crops suppress weeds, and as they grow, they ...

It’s time to put the garden to bed and plant a cover crop. Cover crops protect soil from erosion, reduce compaction, increase organic matter, can break some plant disease and pest cycles, and ...

Managing wet spring soils isn’t just about avoiding ruts—it’s about protecting the biological and physical foundation of crop production and yields. Each spring, farmers look at calendars that say ...

Beyond nutrient retention and erosion control, cover crops can improve soil health over time by increasing organic matter, ...

If the concept of soil health is vague, here’s how it applies to your farm: In healthy soil, water infiltrates rather than runs off. Healthy soil can store more water and release it to your crops.