Integrate cover crops into your farming systems

Christina Curell<curellc@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

MSU Extension collaborates with other agencies to help farmers add cover crops and conservation tillage in their farming systems

Research is continually substantiating the benefits of cover crops. Cover crops help control soil erosion, increase soil health, protect water resources, decrease dependence on commercial fertilizers and decrease pesticide use. All of these benefits add up to financial as well as environmental savings on the farm.

Many growers are concerned about how to integrate cover crops into their farming system and choosing the right cover crop. The key is knowing your objectives, understanding specific cover crop characteristics and choosing the cover crop that will best meet your expectations.  

Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) in collaboration with the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and The Ohio State University Extension (OSUE) have combined professional and technical services and formed the Great Lakes Cover Crop Initiative. Through this multi-state collaboration, Extension educators in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, will provide technical, educational and social support to agricultural producers. The objective is to increase cover crop use and conservation tillage in the Great Lakes Watershed. The results will be increased use of cover crops and conservation tillage systems that can be sustainable to the farming community.

MSUE will work with our partners to host workshops in three watersheds (Lake Michigan Watershed, Lake Erie Watershed and Lake Huron Watershed) promoting cover crops and conservation tillage systems. MSUE and OSUE will offer expert on farm consultations on cover crop selection and management as well as conservation tillage for farmers.

For more information contact Christina Curell or Paul Gross.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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