Ever wonder what cows are doing when we're not looking? Watch this cow's-eye-view of cows exploring and chowing down on a cover crop. Cover crops are an exceptional farming tool to build soil health, stop erosion and retain soil moisture. As it turns out, cows are very fond of covers, too.

Growth in the use of cover crops creates opportunities to examine seed blends for fall planting.

Following the use of cover crops, farmers reported increased yields of corn, soybeans and wheat, and improved control of herbicide-resistant weeds, according to a nationwide survey. In addition, the survey of 2,012 farmers showed acreage planted in cover crops has nearly doubled over the past five years.

Studies about cover crops from many of the semi-arid Great Plains have been cautionary or conditional, owing to potential concerns about soil moisture or nutrient use from covers seeded ahead of cash crops.

A success story in Lovelock, Nevada, where several years of drought have plagued the area and cover crops were the answer for some farmers. It was a gamble that paid off in addressing soil erosion with the help of NRCS.