Cover crops and no-till can take some trial and error. In Episode 84 of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast, three Illinois farmers share practical advice from their experiences implementing these practices across the state. Adam Dahmer farms in Williamson County in southern Illinois, Brent Fowler farms in McDonough County in west-central Illinois, and Greg Thoren farms in Jo Daviess County in northwestern Illinois.
The third installment of the cover crop conversations series discusses cover crop establishment and termination, planter setup, lessons learned from transitioning to no-till, and using cover crops. The farmers share what has worked on their operations, what has not, and what they would do differently when getting started.
- Part one: Cover crop conversations: Cultural and mindset shifts
- Part two: Cover crop conversations: Profitability, soil health, and yield
Pay attention to conditions
Dahmer said his operation has tried several methods for establishing cover crops. They have settled on aerial seeding with a drone into standing corn before harvest and drilling after soybean harvest.
Even with that system, soil moisture matters. Dahmer said there is little advantage to putting seed out during a drought if a small rain germinates it, but there is not enough moisture to keep it alive. He monitors soil moisture when deciding when to establish the cover crop.
Spring termination has also taken some trial and error. Dahmer has tried everything from roller crimping to terminating ryegrass shortly after dormancy. He said timing matters and getting behind on termination last year caused problems later in the season.
Equipment setup matters
When it comes time to plant the cash crop, Dahmer emphasized paying attention to the planter.
That includes:
- Good openers
- Good closing wheels
- Making sure the setup fits your field conditions
His advice for farmers trying something new is simple: do your own research. Try it on part of the farm, pay attention to equipment performance, and make adjustments based on what you see in the field.
Lessons learned
Fowler learned some of those lessons the hard way.
He first tried no-till about 25 years ago and said, “mistakes were made.” Looking back, he identified several things he would do differently:
- Transition into no-till more gradually instead of quitting tillage all at once
- Increase soybean seeding rates in tougher no-till conditions
- Use enough down pressure to get through hard ground
- Plant soybeans at an angle to the previous corn rows
Start with the problem areas
Fowler suggested starting small:
- Identify highly erodible areas
- Look for the “repeat offenders” where erosion happens regularly
- Get a cover crop established in those areas
.
Keeping plants growing longer
Thoren brought the conversation back to a simple idea: farmers grow plants.
Whether those plants are corn, soybeans, wheat, or cover crops, he said one advantage of cover crops is that they are growing in the field for a longer portion of the year.
For Thoren, having more green in the field connects back to:
- More soil life
- Cleaner water
- Cleaner air
- Regenerating the soil
The bottom line
The experiences shared by Dahmer, Fowler, and Thoren show there is not one approach that will work the same way on every farm.
For farmers considering cover crops or no-till, their advice includes:
- Talk to farmers in your area who are already doing it
- Start where it makes sense on your operation
- Pay attention to soil moisture and field conditions
- Check planter setup and planting performance
- Target areas where erosion continues to be a problem
- Try new things on a smaller scale and learn from the results
To hear the full conversation, listen to Episode 84 of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast or the full webinar. To find farmers in your area who have adopted cover crops or another agricultural conservation practice, go to the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership’s Conservation Story Map.
Explore more
- Episode 82 | Cover Crop Conversations: cultural and mindset shifts
- Episode 83 | Cover Crop Conversations: profitability, soil health and yield
- Cover Crop Conversations, Farmer-to-Farmer Insights Across Illinois
- Cover Crop Conversations: Farmer-to-Farmer Insights Across Illinois - Part 2
- Illinois Extension Cover Crops resources
- Cover Crop Decision Tool
- Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership
- Precision Conservation Management
About the blog
At Illinois Extension, we’re working to improve water quality at home and downstream. Every month, our Watershed Outreach Associates bring you stories highlighting agricultural conservation practices, current research, and insights from the field. The Nutrient Loss Reduction blog covers conservation practices recommended by the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, timely updates, and decision tools to help farmers reduce nutrients leaving their fields.
About the authors
Rachel Curry is an Agriculture and Agribusiness Educator specializing in agriculture and watershed education, and she is part of the Illinois Extension's Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy implementation team. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Knox College and an M.S. in Environmental Science and Soil Science from Iowa State University, focusing on soil fertility. Her work centers on education and outreach related to the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, promoting agricultural conservation practices that reduce nutrient loss while enhancing water quality and soil health across Illinois.
Nicole Haverback serves as a Watershed Outreach Associate and is an Illinois Extension team member implementing the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. She holds a B.S. in Agricultural and Rural Policy Studies from Iowa State University and an M.S. in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication from University of Illinois. In her role, Nicole coordinates watershed management efforts aimed at reducing nutrient losses in two nitrate-nitrogen priority watersheds, offers expertise on best management practices to minimize nutrient loss, and leads outreach initiatives promoting agricultural conservation practices outlined in the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.
Luke Zwilling serves as a Watershed Outreach Associate and is an Illinois Extension team member implementing the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. He grew up on a farm in Jasper County and earned a B.S. in Agriculture and Biological Engineering from University of Illinois. Luke coordinates watershed-based activities to reduce nutrient loss in two phosphorus priority watersheds, provides expertise on best management practices for nutrient loss reduction, and conducts outreach on agricultural conservation practices in the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.