The Gap Between Cover Crop Knowledge and Practice

By Anderson-Wilk, Mark

Cover crops can provide a multitude of environmental benefits, including reducing soil erosion, minimizing nitrogen leaching, and increasing soil carbon storage (Deigado et al. 2007; Singer et al. 2007; Hargrove 1991). Cover crops also have the potential to suppress weeds, control pests, and create new sources of income for farmers (Clark 2007). However, cover cropping is not widely practiced (Singer et al. 2007). So why aren’t more farmers using cover crops? The key to greater adoption of cover crops likely involves a combination of approaches.

Singer et al. (2007) found that “approximately 56% of farmers indicated that they would plant cover crops if cost-sharing was available.” This suggests that cost-sharing mechanisms could be effective as one approach in a successful cover crop implementation toolbox.

More can also be done to translate the decades of cover crop research into practical information for producers. The Soil and Water Conservation Society has supported the sharing of information about cover crop research and practice over the years with several conferences and numerous publications on the topic. The Midwest Cover Crops Council is currently conducting a survey to assess cover crop experience in the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi region.The information will be used to develop tools for making cover crop decisions within specific areas of the region.

Despite low adoption rates, interest in cover crops appears to be strong. Growing interest in cover cropping was evident at a recent cover crops field day in central Iowa. Scientists from the National Soil Tilth Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service, and the Iowa State University Department of Agronomy gave the Practical Farmers of Iowa a tour of their cover crop research plots.

Demonstrations of cover cropping on working farms could also be effective in increasing the practice. In this issue, we include a working success story by cover crop farmer Steve Goff (see pages 110A to 111A).

Scientists at the National Soil Tilth Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service, are involved in a wide range of cover crop research, including corn silage and cover crops, manure and cover crops, cover crops as living mulches, self-seeding cover crops, and nitrate leaching comparison of different cover crops. Pictured: Tom Kaspar of the National Soil Tilth Laboratory.

Researchers from the Iowa State University Department of Agronomy are studying the properties of triticale varieties and their potential use for forage.

REFERENCES

Clark, A. 2007. Managing Cover Crops Profitably. 3rd edition. Handbook Series Book 3. Beltsville, MD: Sustainable Agriculture Network.

Delgado, J.A., M.A. Dilloti, R.T. Sparks, and S.Y.C. Essah. 2007. A decade of advances in cover crops: Cover crops with limited irrigation can increase yields, crop quality, and nutrient and water use efficiencies while protecting the environment. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 62(5):110A-117A.

Hargrove, W.L., ed. 1991. Cover Crops for Clean Water. Ankeny, IA: Soil and Water Conservation Society.

Singer, J. W., S.M. Nusser, and C.J. Alf. 2007. Are cover crops being used in the US corn belt? Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 62(5)353-358.

Mark Anderson-Wilk, editor of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, may be reached at pubs@swcs.org or 515-289-2331 ext. 126.

Copyright Soil and Water Conservation Society Jul/Aug 2008

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