The Cover Crop Economic Decision Support Tool helps growers, landowners and others make informed decisions when considering whether to use cover crops.

If planting new alfalfa fields this spring, University of Nebraska suggests considering needs and costs when selecting traits, particularly Roundup Ready alfalfa.

Even with fertilizer cost decreases, evaluating the level of fertilizer applications may be advisable, perhaps lowering application rates given recent price changes.

This fall there are two key economic issues to consider in wheat production: lower grain prices and fertilizer costs. A year ago, July 2013 wheat futures traded at $8.67. Today, July 2014 wheat trades at $7.04. The decline in wheat prices over the past year equates to about $98 per acre on an average 60-bushel yield.

With a historic drought pounding the U.S. this year, an important question is being raised once again: Could we see another Dust Bowl era in the U.S.?

Winter cover crops are an important component of nutrient cycling, soil cover and organic matter content.

Grain prices moved higher this year and the costs of growing them are likely to do the same in the year ahead, according to Purdue University estimates.