Annual cover crops grown in place of fallow can provide high-quality forage during key production periods and may help reduce soil erosion, suppress weeds, and increase soil nutrient profiles, but some may not be suitable for forage or grazing, says Kansas State University Extension.

Soils that rated the highest on the Soil Management Assessment Framework were in land converted to perennial grasses, a Purdue and USDA study found.

No-tiller Steve Siverling talks about rebuilding soil structure and fertility, and experimenting with cover crop mixes, on his small farm in northern Wisconsin.

Seed should be placed deep enough to have access to adequate moisture, yet shallow enough to emerge as quickly as possible, says University of Minnesota Extension.

No-tillers raising small grains who received a lot of snowfall should check for snow molds, says Penn State Extension.

“The Pluses and Minuses of Today’s Most Popular Cover Crops” eGuide reveals how you can pick and utilize the cover crop species that are perfect for your farm, and it’s FREE!

With the combination of high corn yields, above average precipitation this year, we might see more response to fall nitrogen on our small grain crops.

From February 16th, 2012 - March 15th, 2012, we asked No-Till Farmer readers: "Are you planning any cropping changes heading into 2012 vs. 2011?"