The USDA announced a series of measures to promote production of fuel from renewable sources, create jobs and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Cover crop biomass accumulation and root growth depend on when the cover crop is established. This determines how much cover the cover crop provides and this is important for erosion control, especially when establishing a cover crop in a tilled seedbed, or with no-till in low residue situations.

Mark Pettijohn builds failure into his farming operation and expects some stinkers while experimenting with "green" and "unconventional" methods. Sometimes he hits it big, however, and a field busts loose with gorgeous bounty.

Giant miscanthus, which is a perennial warm-season grass from Asia, is garnering attention across the Midwest because of its high biomass output, its potential for conversion to ethanol and its adaptability to many different soil types.

Knowing the differences between annual ryegrass and cereal rye will allow farmers to choose the best applications for each crop, which will improve profitability.

In addition to wet fields and localized flooding, this winter's record snow cover is likely to contribute to abundant winter annual weed infestations in no-till fields.