Cover Crop Field Day in Allen County

by Cassandra Vondran

Cassandra is an Indiana State Department of Agriculture Resource Specialist for the Division of Soil Conservation in Allen and DeKalb Counties covering the Western Lake Erie Basin and has been with the Division for nearly 18 years.

Many benefits are associated with cover crops:  erosion control, increased microbial activity, increased nutrient cycling, increased organic matter, increased infiltration, and increased crop yields. To educate area farmers, a cover crop field day was held on April 10^th at Ron Miller’s farm north of Woodburn, IN.  The field day was sponsored by the Allen County SWCD as a part of an Indiana Department of Environmental Management 319 grant for the Upper Maumee River Watershed Project. 

Scott Haley and Derek Thompson showing soil health demonstrations

Scot Haley, NRCS Area Soil Scientist, and Derek Thompson, DeKalb County NRCS District Conservationist, kicked off the field day by showing soil demonstrations.  Mike Werling, a farmer and a contract employee through the St. Mary’s Watershed Initiative, provided additional comments.  The demonstrations showed the benefits of utilizing cover crops. Producers then were able to look at soil pits in fields that had cover crops.  

Attendees look on as Scott Haley describes cover crop roots in a soil pit

Soil pits were dug about three to four feet deep to allow producers the chance to see the below ground earthworm activity and the roots of the cover crops.  One field was seeded with cereal rye and the other field was seeded with oilseed radish and oats in the fall of 2012.  Mr. Miller received cost share assistance to try cover crops for one year.

Ron Miller and his son look at the roots of a dead oilseed radish plant

The takeaway message for the event was for farmers to understand the basic mechanics of cover crops and adopt them into their own management system.  Events such as this cover crop field day are giving farmers this basic information.  More cover crop field days are being planned for the future in Allen and DeKalb counties.   

Happy Earth Day Everyone!

by Deb Jimison

Deb serves as a Resource Specialist in the Tippecanoe Watershed area. Deb is housed in the Pulaski County field office as part of the Division of Soil Conservation team. Before joining ISDA, Jimison worked for Soil and Water Investigation in Elkhart as a soil scientist.  She brings a wealth of experience in storm water management and erosion control to the position. Jimison is an Indiana native from Elkhart County.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Purdue University in 1985. She lives in Winamac and enjoys travel, camping, canoeing and observing wildlife.

It seems that the saying “Everything old is new again” is true in many different areas. Our grandfather’s knew the benefits of cover crops, but somehow that practice was forgotten in modern farming.  As pressure grows from an ever-increasing world population for food and energy, cover crops have been re-discovered as a tool that helps the soil help producers. The technological advances in farming strategies, equipment and chemicals can increase production only so far if soils aren't revived as well. Cover crops, especially as part of an over-all system including additional conservation methods, can return to our soils the properties they once had when first converted into cropland.

Plans can meet individual needs at every farm as each cover crop addresses different things. Your situation might benefit from erosion control, holding on to nutrients, knocking back weeds or providing forage. Using the right plants or preferably a combination of plants with different properties is a powerful way to give soil a boost. Species with tap roots address surface compaction to improve water and nutrient movement to cash crops. Others with fibrous roots can build soil structure and improve tilth. Deep-rooted covers add permeability in heavy soils. Others may hold expensive nutrients and chemicals so they don’t get lost to the ground water.

Pit showing rooting depths of cover crops although not much is showing at the surface

As with any practice, there is the potential for problems if not used correctly.  Discuss plans with someone experienced in using cover crops prior to your first attempt. Do research to find the proper species, the correct scheduling of planting and termination and proper control methods for the crops you’d like to try. Then the improvements you want can be obtained and the negative effects on the next cash crop can be avoided. Your local ISDA Resource Specialist (RS) is a great source for obtaining information on cover crops and many other issues. Contact your local RS today with any questions or concerns you may have.

Early spring results of a mix of cover crops.

(Mis)Conceptions about Soil Health

By Logan Garner

Logan is the Water Quality and Initiatives Program Manager for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture-Division of Soil Conservation. 

Unless you’re not involved with agriculture in Indiana, you’ve probably heard the term “soil health” countless times.  We are fortunate to live in a state where so many farmers are focusing on the improvement of our soils, and are adopting the paradigm that healthy soils mean good things for their crops, their wallets and the natural resources which sustain both.