Cover Crop Strategies Podcast

Weeds are the enemy of every farmer, and those growers who plant cover crops are no exception. However, cover crops can be part of the management strategy to overcome weeds that have become resistant to herbicides, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff. In this week’s podcast, Groff explains which weeds are the worst offenders, how weed types change on the farm, and more. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Farmers should not limit themselves to only growing corn and soybeans and should consider using small grains as a cover crop, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff. In this podcast, Groff explains the benefits of adding small grains to crop rotations, such as building soil biology, adding diversity, increasing organic matter and more. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

While the idea might seem a little ‘out there’ in a typical year, 2019 was not a typical year in many states, with weather challenges causing planting, field work and harvesting delays. Cover Crop Coach Steve Groff says there are more opportunities than you think for getting something done in December. Groff will discuss which cover crops can be planted in December with a high degree of success and how growers can use slightly frozen ground to their advantage.

While cover crops are being utilized across the U.S., in all 50 states, adoption has lagged behind a bit in semi-arid climates due to concerns about soil moisture being depleted. In part one of a two-part podcast series on this topic, Holtwood, Pa., grower and cover crop innovator Steve Groff will share some real examples of farmers from dryland areas that are using cover crops, including one who proclaimed he has the lowest annual rainfall (no irrigation) of any farmer in the world who is still seeding covers. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Soils plagued with compaction, aggregation and/or poor water infiltration don’t have to be that way forever. Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff explains how cover crops can help to improve the soil through a process including evaluation, soil testing and strategic planning for that soil. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Buying cover crop seed should be a transaction that benefits everyone involved—the grower and the seed dealer. That means asking the right questions to get the product you want and need for your operation. Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff shares the top 5 questions to ask the next time you buy cover crop seed. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Like all aspects of farming, growing cover crops doesn’t always go as intended. Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff says that how cover croppers react to failure is critical for learning and doing better the next time. Groff shares ideas on how to deal with several areas where cover cropping can go awry, including weather, herbicides, equipment and management, and shares stories from his own cover crop failures. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Many cover crop species can be used as forage while also providing soil health benefits, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff, including hay, baleage and grazing. The type of cover crops to plant depends on your ultimate goal for those cover crops, as that goal can affect seeding rates, planting dates, and fertility. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Typically, double cropping done after small grains is planting soybeans in wheat stubble, but not always, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff. Some growers plant a crop after barley, oats or other small grain crops, and cover crops are a viable choice for planting in late summer. The amount of precipitation is also a factor in deciding whether to plant cover crops after small grains. The type of cover crop planted can also play a role in helping increase yields the following growing year. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff says that in the past 5-10 years, soil health testing has grown in popularity, but they aren’t a silver bullet for detecting all soil health problems. In this podcast, learn about the different types of soil tests available, what they can measure and why each one is important. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Managing legumes as a cover crop requires smart decision making, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff. From choosing the best nitrogen-producing species and planting legumes as early as possible to using winter hardy selections and planting into green legumes, Groff shares best practices for getting the most out your covers while using less nitrogen. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

There are other options for growers besides letting your best soil blow away in the wind, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff. Planting into a standing cover crop can be handled in a variety of ways. Groff explains why your planter should be equipped with a roller crimper, how to evaluate your comfort or experience level with planting green, using the proper seeding rate and more. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Timing, cover crop seeding rates and application methods are the keys to maximizing manure management for cover crops, according to Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff shares key concepts for working with heavy clay soils, discusses why diversity of species is critical for this type of soil, and how cover crops and can be used in heavy clay soils for water management. Because heavy clay soils tend to hold moisture, they can produce outstanding yields, so understanding how to manage some of the biggest challenges this soil type can offer is of the utmost importance. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Although most growers this year have been dealing with too much rain, there are areas and years when getting a cover crop established and reaping the benefit without draining soil moisture is a challenge. Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff says that growers using covers in a low-rainfall area should concentrate on feeding soil biology, keeping the soil cool and improve water management. Executing these ideas will look different for each farmer, but all farmers can aim for diversity of species, keeping something growing in fields year-round and shading fields. Find out more in this week’s podcast. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is a critical number to know when planning for both cover crops and cash crops, according to Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff. The C:N ratio affects decomposition rates for crop residues and impacts nitrogen cycling as well. Understanding the C:N ratio helps growers be better managers in the context of overall soil health and fertilizer use. Groff shares why this often-overlooked aspect is critical to making good decisions when growing covers. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Preparation is important to succeeding with cover crop management and there are several areas of decision making that can have a significant impact, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff. (Courtesy of Cover Crop Innovators)

Hungary is the destination for this week’s podcast, as Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff shares his observations from visiting the country for their first-ever soil health conference. Hungarian growers are just becoming more interested in cover crops and no-till, despite the fact that they plow up to 90% of their land. Groff explains why it’s important to review the basics of cover cropping, why radishes are the best choice for a beginning cover crop, what lupins are, and much more.

Climate change is one of those hot-button topics that everyone has an opinion on. Regardless of the cause, science has shown that global temperatures are rising, and agriculture will have to adapt in order to continue feeding the world. Could cover crops be a tool to help reduce the affects of climate change? Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff weighs in on this controversial topic, including how growers can make a difference in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, how cover crops sequester carbon, how well managed grazing fits in and more.

Determining the best time to plant covers is a critical element to their success. It’s important to know how late in the season you can plant covers to plan buying cover crop seed and working around potential fall inclement weather. Steve Groff, a grower from Holtwood, Pa., shares his thoughts on what has affected cover crop planting dates in the past 20 years, including no-till, mixed species covers, higher biological activity, winter hardiness of cultivars and new cover crop cultivars.