URBANA, Ill. - Illinois farmers willing to participate in a paid cover crop demonstration trial are needed beginning in fall 2020. Participation is now open. 

The Illinois Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program partners with university researchers and educators, agricultural professionals, and farmers to promote applied, on-farm research and education throughout Illinois. A prime SARE initiative is to increase cover crop usage by Illinois farmers.

Eight to ten farmers willing to designate 20 to 80 acres are needed for the trial. The entire field will be planted with corn/soybeans and following harvest, one-half of the field will be planted with cover crops and the other half left fallow. Land that does not have a previous history of cover crop use is eligible. The project will last five years, and stipends for planting the cover crops will be provided each year.

Access to fields will be needed to collect samples and take measurements. For more information or to participate, contact Doug Gucker, University of Illinois Extension educator and Illinois SARE co-coordinator.

Source: Doug Gucker, University of Illinois Extension Educator, dgucker@illinois.edu
Writer: Emily Steele, Media Communications Coordinator, easteele@illinois.edu