Civil Eats

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

The tall forage stands out in southeastern Minnesota’s corn and soybean fields, which this time of year have been reduced to stubble poking through the snow. It works as both a cover crop and forage for the cattle, and it’s helping Bedtka build up organic matter in his soil. That’s where the sorghum-sudangrass comes in.

Crop 111

Crop Farming Farming Acre 111

Modern Farmer

JANUARY 19, 2024

In return, they are paid a yearly rental rate per acre of land enrolled in CRP programs. In 2023, he USDA Farm Service Agency made more than $1.77 billion in payments to agricultural producers and landowners enrolled in all CRP programs, and more than 23 million acres of private land in the US was being conserved.

Farming 83

Farming Farming Farmland Livestock 83

UnderstandingAg

MAY 8, 2024

If done right, it should always be building fertility, not extracting it. Concentrations of minerals in cereal rye forage at several developmental stages when harvested at a 4-inch height. Nutrient removal is a function of not only nutrient concentration but also forage yield. are on a per ton of dry matter basis for the forage.

Manure 114

Manure Crop Forage Processing 114

Civil Eats

OCTOBER 2, 2023

The biosolids created as sewage breaks down can be used as fertilizer on farmland, a practice that the Environmental Protection Agency still touts as “beneficial,” even though spreading these highly toxic chemicals across farmland allows the compounds to leach into the groundwater, contaminate crops grown on the land, and affect grazing animals.

Farming 112

Farming Farming Farmland Crop 112

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

DECEMBER 8, 2023

That means that when there is a heavy rainstorm, the soil will keep absorbing it even while less fertile soils let the rain (and associated nutrients) wash off into nearby bodies of water. Such practices can also reduce nitrous oxide emissions, in part by reducing the need to apply synthetic fertilizers.

Ranching 71

Ranching Crop Greenhouse Pasture 71

Modern Farmer

JULY 10, 2023

After a winter of record snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a sudden warm spell melted the lower reaches, unleashing nearly 40,000 acre-feet of water —a volume equal to more than a tenth of Las Vegas’ annual supply—in 48 hours. His 580-acre farm grows enough forage to supply the herd, so “I’m good with where I’m at,” he adds.

Farming 89

Farming Farming Manure Agriculture 89

UnderstandingAg

APRIL 30, 2023

Manure slurry is a valuable but difficult resource to manage on dairy farms. Slurry pits must be emptied to make room for the never-ending stream of manure. Manure is often not a top priority for most dairies and handling may have to wait until seasonal fieldwork is completed. This causes the soil microbiology to go dormant.

Manure 52

Manure Pasture Fertilizer Crop 52