Civil Eats

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

It turns out a system that relies less on row crops isn’t just good for a time- and resource-strapped young farmer. It works as both a cover crop and forage for the cattle, and it’s helping Bedtka build up organic matter in his soil. Any day you can graze is better,” says Bedka. That’s where the sorghum-sudangrass comes in.

Crop 127

Crop Farming Farming Acre 127

ATTRA

DECEMBER 26, 2023

They are documenting Lincoln’s living cover crop system, where he undersows Dutch white clover into vegetables after the last cultivation in July. He would let the cover crop grow and overwinter and then plow down the following spring for green manure.

Crop 79

Crop Plowing Farming Farming 79

UnderstandingAg

SEPTEMBER 24, 2023

Selling the ripper and investing the money into well-planned cover crops is a safer bet. There are several strategies we can use to maximize ground cover in crop fields throughout the growing season. Cover crops are the “Swiss army knife” of tools for addressing compaction.

Manure 94

Manure Cash Crop Crop Crop Rotation 94

Cropaia

DECEMBER 19, 2023

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in regenerative agriculture, a holistic approach to farming that seeks to restore and revitalize the land while improving crop yields and overall farm profitability. This means increased crop yields and reduced inputs like fertilizers and pesticides. What’s in It for Farmers?

Agriculture 97

Agriculture Agriculture Farming Farming 97

UnderstandingAg

MAY 3, 2024

Fall application of nutrients for a cash crop the following year makes no sense from a plant nutrition standpoint. Most N should be put in small amounts as a sidedress or foliar spray, unless you are planting into a high C:N ratio soil or cover crop that will require a lot of N for residue decomposition. This is backwards.

Pesticide 82

Pesticide Crop Manure Fertilizer 82

ATTRA

JANUARY 2, 2024

Higher temperatures can speed crop growth and increase demands on the soil. Close plant spacings, quick crop successions, and extended seasons, typical in tunnel production, add to those demands. With increased crop successions comes increased soil preparation and tillage that can impact soil structure.

Compost 52

Compost Fertilizer Crop Cash Crop 52

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

JULY 14, 2023

Who manages land determines which scientific perspectives, crop choices, traditions, and skills shape the landscape, with profound implications for its ecological sustainability. In cropping systems, it may include increasing structural diversity of the crops themselves, as by having cut and uncut strips of alfalfa.

Agriculture 98

Agriculture Agriculture Pasture Crop Rotation 98