www.sare.org publications cover-cropping-for-pollinators-and-beneficial-insects balancing-insect-conservation-with-usda-crop-insurance-rules Balancing Insect Conservation with USDA Crop Insurance Rules The USDA's NRCS, Risk Management Agency (RMA) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) came together in 2014 to develop standardized termination recommendations for non-irrigated cover crops in four different regions or zones in the United States [12]. They sought recommendations that would achieve optimal balance between conservation benefits and soil water conservation for cash crops, and […]
www.sare.org publications cover-cropping-for-pollinators-and-beneficial-insects plant-selection Plant Selection The plants that best fit your needs will vary by location and purpose. Different cover crops have different strengths. Flowering broadleaf species are a must when selecting cover crops for pollinators. Grass cover crops do not provide nectar and their pollen typically has lower protein content than the pollen of broadleaf plants, thus making them […]
www.sare.org publications cover-cropping-for-pollinators-and-beneficial-insects cover-crops-on-your-farm Cover Crops On Your Farm Beyond supporting bee and beneficial insect populations, cover crops can reduce your costs for herbicide, insecticide and fertilizer, and improve overall soil health [3]. Many cover crops can be included in a double-crop system or used as animal forage. Cover crops can be integrated into most crop or crop-livestock systems, including no-till, conventional till, rotational […]
www.sare.org publications cover-cropping-for-pollinators-and-beneficial-insects introduction-5 Introduction Doug and Anna Crabtree's Vilicus farm rests on more than 2,000 acres in northern Montana, and it is a model of how cover crops can be a foundation of pollinator and beneficial insect management. Like many farmers, their approach to cover cropping began with an interest in soil health and quickly grew to encompass much […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 some-final-thoughts Some Final Thoughts The old folk saying “The farmer’s footprint is the best fertilizer” could be modified to “The farmer’s footprint is the best path to improved soil health.” If you don’t already do so, begin to regularly observe and record the variability in crop yield across your fields. Take the time to track production from the various sections […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 practices-to-help-remedy-specific-constraints Practices to Help Remedy Specific Constraints Building soil health can help prevent problems from affecting the environment and the growth of plants. However, as good a job as you might do, specific problems may arise that require some sort of remedial action. The choice of a practice or combinations of practices depends largely on specific soil health problems and possible constraints imposed […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 what-makes-sense-on-your-farm What Makes Sense on Your Farm? We strongly advocate a holistic management approach. As with human health, we have the ability to diagnose problems through observations and testing. If problems are identified, the patient and physician develop strategies to address them. This may include a change in diet, exercising, a pill, or even surgery. There are often multiple ways and combinations […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 general-approaches General Approaches Most types of agriculture soil health can be improved through six main approaches: reducing tillage avoiding soil compaction growing cover crops using better crop rotations applying organic amendments applying inorganic amendments There are many options for making soil management changes in different types of farming systems. We have discussed these in the previous chapters with […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 summary-and-sources-15 Summary and Sources Summary There are many things to be learned by regularly observing the soil and plants in your fields. These include being able to evaluate the severity of runoff, erosion, and compaction; root development; severe nutrient deficiencies; and the presence of earthworms, among other things. Laboratory evaluations of biological indicators, as well as more comprehensive evaluations […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 laboratory-soil-health-testing Laboratory Soil Health Testing Comprehensive Soil Tests Growers are used to taking soil samples and having them analyzed for available nutrients, pH, and total organic matter by a university or commercial lab. In arid regions it is common to also determine whether the soil is saline (too much salt) or sodic (too much sodium). This provides information on the […]