Cover crops

Events

Blog Posts

Farmers talking
Illinois Farm Bureau Nutrient Stewardship Grant Program
The Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB)...
Corn plant in dark soil
The down and dirty on soil carbon and carbon markets
Interested in joining a carbon (C) market, but not sure what it will mean for your field? With a large, diverse number of companies attempting to...
Farmers standing in harvested corn field
Sustaining our future: A farm family story spotlight
To celebrate our 50th podcast episode, we get behind-the-scenes information about the creation and...
Cover crop growing between corn stalks
What role does soil health have on IPM decisions?
With so many conservation practices focusing on soil health, what impact might those decisions have on your Integrated Pest Management (IPM)...
Crimson Clover
Cover crops to the rescue
Healthy soil is essential for healthy plants.  Using cover crops in the home garden is one way to promote soil health.  Cover crops are non-...
Graphic: Talking conservation with farmers over photo of cover crops
Talking conservation with farmers
Welcome to the NEW Nutrient Loss Reduction Blog where we explore different conservation practices and work together with farmers to improve water...
What’s the real deal with cover crops and SCN?
I think it is high time that I write to inform you about my Ph.D. research at Iowa State University where I studied the impact of cover crops on the...
green-blue oat grass with oats maturing
Let plants do the work, it's time to plant fall cover crops
Illinois vegetable growers are entering the toughest six weeks of the year. Despite the seasonal demands, soil health depends on timely planning of a...

News Releases

robot in corn field
$5M USDA grant funds Illinois-led innovative cover cropping project
Urbana, Ill. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced that it is funding a new project led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign that will address major obstacles to adoption of cover crops in the United States. Titled “iCOVER: Innovated Cover-crop Opportunity,...
calf
Beef up your 2023 beef herd management
URBANA, Ill – Producers can improve herd management by learning latest research on cover crop performance, grazing farms, soil health, and drainage practices during the 2023 Dudley Smith Farm Winter Meeting. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 7 at the...
cover crops in field
Cover cropping up to 7.2% in U.S. Midwest, boosted by government programs
URBANA, Ill. – Cover crops, with their ability to reduce erosion and promote soil health, are being planted across more Midwestern land than ever. That’s according to new University of Illinois research showing cover crop adoption reached 7.2% in 2021, up from just 1.8% a decade prior. The...
4-H teaches budding scientists about cover crops
PEKIN, Ill. - Young people can have fun while being a part of cutting-edge research in the new Cover Crops Scientist 4-H Special Interest (SPIN) Club. For over 100 years, 4-H has involved youth in the newest research and best-practices in science and agriculture – and this legacy continues today...

Videos

Cover Crops and Gardens

There is a lot of talk about the use of cover crops in agricultural settings. What about in gardens? Duane Friend discusses cover crop use in gardens, its benefits, and field demonstrations of its potential.

Staff