The Grow Down on Soil Health
Welcome to “The Grow Down on Soil Health” podcast, where we dive deep into sustainable farming practices designed to enhance both your land and your bottom line. Join host Ben West, Ph.D., executive director of Farmers for Soil Health, and a diverse lineup of guests from various agricultural backgrounds as they share entertaining stories, invaluable soil health management techniques, and the incredible benefits cover crops can bring to your farm.
Cover Crop Management During a Strong El Niño
In this webinar, DTN meteorologist John Baranick discusses the key weather factors shaping the fall and winter seasons as a building El Niño is forecast to become one of the strongest on record. He explains how El Niño may influence regional weather patterns and what those conditions could mean for cover crop establishment, management, and decision-making heading into the 2027 growing season.
Feeding the Soil: Cover crops, crop rotations and more with Dr. Marshall McDaniel
In this webinar, Dr. Marshall McDaniel, Associate Professor of Soil-Plant Interactions at Iowa State University, explores how cover crops, diversified crop rotations, and perennial groundcovers can improve soil health. Drawing on his research, Dr. McDaniel discusses how these practices influence soil carbon, nitrogen, and microbial biomass, along with considerations for effectively managing perennial groundcovers in corn and corn-soybean systems.
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Using Cover Crops to Convert to No-till
This fact sheet discusses the difference between tilling and not tilling, ecosystem functionality, continuous living cover, nitrogen recycling, reduced soil erosion, phosphorus retention, water infiltration, and controlled traffic.
Using Cover Crops to Improve Water Quality
This resource from the Center for Regenerative Agriculture discusses how cover crops can can improve water quality by reducing erosion, improving infiltration, building soil organic matter, and more.
Using Herbicides and Cover Crops in Corn and Soybean
Read this article from the University of Minnesota Extension to learn how using herbicides and cover crops can impact your corn and soybean production system.
Virtual Fencing for Livestock Might Be Your Solution
For today’s episode, we have Kaitlyn Dozler here to give us the ins and outs of virtual fences. She’ll break down topics such as how the technology works, the labor and cost savings for producers and how the cattle respond. Learn more about this grazing option and how it can not only be a solution for ranchers who don’t have time to rotate but also for the herd.