Farmers planting cover crops — which can include cereal rye, winter wheat and other grasses and legumes — for better water filtration and weed suppression also face challenges such as time, cost, risk ...

The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced. A free, online tool that helps farmers evaluate cover crop species based on things like county, ...

The Midwest Cover Crop Council’s cover crop decision tool was recently updated for Iowa. This winter a group of Iowan researchers, agency staff, seed dealers, and farmers came together to provide ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — When Steve Stierwalt studied agriculture at the University of Illinois in the 1970s, soil health wasn’t commonly taught or discussed. Faculty often told their young farming ...

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 ...

If you haven’t taken the leap and you’re unsure about whether or not to sow a cover crop, know that it’s worth it. Specifically, when it comes to your bottom line, cover crops save money. They may not ...

As the deadline approaches for Congress to renew the U.S. Farm Bill, agricultural experts and farmers are calling on legislators to prioritize protecting topsoil in the Midwest and throughout the ...