Land Stewardship Project

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Cover Crops

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Cover crops play a key role in building soil health. They shield soil from erosion during heavy downpours, rebuild soil structure, improve water infiltration and aeration, and scavenge excess nutrients. They also feed the soil’s biological life and suppress disease and weeds.

With all of these benefits comes a host of questions to consider when choosing and managing cover crops. For instance, what do you want the cover crop to accomplish? Which covers are best for scavenging nitrogen or for fixing “problem” spots in the field? What is the best way to terminate them in the spring? And how and when can cover crops be successfully established? Farmers are working through these critical questions and have provided the resources on this page to help guide other farmers. Check out the resources below to learn more about cover crops and how to best implement them on the farm.

 

Got Cover Crop Questions?

Do you want to know how to get started cover cropping, or need to tweak your current cover cropping system? Give LSP a call at 507-523-3366.

Got an Idea?

If you have an idea you’d like to have featured in a video, blog, podcast, or field day, contact us.

Field Days & Workshops

See our web calendar for LSP field days, workshops  & pasture walks

Cover Cropping Videos

Check out LSP’s series of videos featuring farmers and other experts talking about the role cover cropping and other regenerative practices can play in building healthy, profitable soil.

Cover Crops Fact Sheets

• Cover Crop Considerations
• Frost Seeding Cover Crops
• Managed Grazing of Cover Crops for Farmers Without Livestock
• Farming with Well-Managed Grazing & Continuous Living Cover Enhances Soil Health & Addresses Climate Change

Soil Health Podcast Series

Check out LSP’s ongoing Ear Dirt podcast series for conversations on cover cropping, no-till, managed rotational grazing, fungi, and just about anything else that builds soil health.

Related Posts

  • Ear to the Ground 268: Rolling Down the CC River

    https://landstewardshipproject.org/podcast-player/6901/ear-to-the-ground-268-rolling-down-the-cc-river.mp3

    Download file | Play in new window | Duration: 28:51 | Recorded on February 23, 2022

    A farmer, a soil conservationist, and a crops specialist talk about how the roller crimper system can help extend the benefits of a cover crop.
    More…

    Ear to the Ground 268: Rolling Down the CC River
  • LSP Pasture Walk to Feature Spring Grazing of Cover Crops May 19 near Ossian 

    April 25, 2022
    https://landstewardshipproject.org/podcast-player/6901/ear-to-the-ground-268-rolling-down-the-cc-river.mp3

    Download file | Play in new window | Duration: 28:51 | Recorded on February 23, 2022

    OSSIAN, Iowa — Spring grazing of cover crops will be the focus of a Land Stewardship Project (LSP) pasture walk May 19, from 5 p.m…

    News Releases
    adaptive managed grazing, bale grazing, cover crops, grass, grazing, livestock
    LSP Pasture Walk to Feature Spring Grazing of Cover Crops May 19 near Ossian 
  • Ear to the Ground 269: Soil’s Stairway to Heaven

    https://landstewardshipproject.org/podcast-player/6938/ear-to-the-ground-269-soils-stairway-to-heaven.mp3

    Download file | Play in new window | Duration: 23:13 | Recorded on February 28, 2022

    Mike Seifert is using cover cropping and no-till to make up for the soil damage caused by years of heavy metal tillage. One rainy night…

    Ear to the Ground 269: Soil’s Stairway to Heaven

Soil Health Team

  • Shona Snater, Programs Department co-director,
    612-767-9886, e-mail
  • Alex Romano, grazing,
    612-767-9880, e-mail
  • Barbara Sogn-Frank, field crops,
    612-400-6357, e-mail
  • Robin Moore, non-operating landowners,
    612-767-9480, e-mail
  • Maura Curry, field crops,
    612-767-9882, e-mail
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Upcoming Events

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May 2022

Wednesday May 18

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
LSP Food Systems Virtual Listening Session
LSP Food Systems Virtual Listening Session
Wednesday May 18
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

The Land Stewardship Project will hold a virtual listening session on regional food systems. Register here.

Thursday May 19

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
LSP Grazing Group Pasture Walk
LSP Grazing Group Pasture Walk
Thursday May 19
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

LSP will hold a Grazing Group Pasture Walk at Oak Creek Pastures in Ossian, Iowa. Sign-in for this free event begins at 4:45 p.m. Supper will be provided; suggested $3-$5 meal contribution.

Scott & Amanda Holthaus of Oak Creek Pastures are hosting a pasture walk for area graziers to show cattle grazing on crop-ground planted last fall to a diverse winter cover mix (rye, vetch, triticale, winter barley) and results of winter bale grazing on permanent pasture. There will be a discussion around fencing and watering considerations for maximizing grazing days.
 
Register at https://secure.everyaction.com/aYx1CibrAUaEu0XVPjqlIw2.

Friday May 20

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Farm Bill Listening Session for Retiring Farmers, Non-operating Landowners
Farm Bill Listening Session for Retiring Farmers, Non-operating Landowners
Friday May 20
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Join the Land Stewardship Project on Friday, May 20, from noon-1 p.m., for a virtual conversation with other retiring farmers and non-operating landowners to discuss how federal policy could better support your efforts to build a more just and resilient agricultural system. To register, click here.

Saturday May 21

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Farmer Fiesta at Whitewater State Park
Farmer Fiesta at Whitewater State Park
Saturday May 21
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Get to know other farmers and learn about conservation programs while enjoying a build-your-own taco bar with locally grown foods and ice cream served by the Winona County Dairy Princess. After supper, area farmer and soil conservationist Martin Larsen will share his experiences caving below the farm fields of southeastern Minnesota. Reserve a spot for this free Friends of Whitewater State Park event by e-mailing sara.holger@state.mn.us or calling 507-312-2308.

Tuesday May 24

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
LSP Food Systems In-Person Listening Session
LSP Food Systems In-Person Listening Session
Tuesday May 24
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

The Land Stewardship Project will be holding an in-person listening session on regional food systems in Montevideo, Minn. Register here.

View Full Calendar

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  • Rural Voices Hold More Power Than You Think May 5, 2022
  • Legislative Session Heads into its Final Days May 4, 2022
  • LSP Pasture Walk to Feature Spring Grazing of Cover Crops May 19 near Ossian  April 25, 2022

Montevideo

117 South First Street
Montevideo, MN 56265

(320) 269-2105

Lewiston

180 E. Main Street
Lewiston, MN 55952

(507) 523-3366

Minneapolis

821 E. 35th Street #200
Minneapolis, MN 55407

(612) 722-6377

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https://landstewardshipproject.org/cover-crops-soil-health