2017

How to Conduct Research on Your Farm or Ranch

This 32-page bulletin outlines how to conduct research at the farm level, offering practical tips for both crop and livestock producers, as well as a comprehensive list of more in-depth resources.

Organic Production

Capitalize on the booming organic industry. This topic room has resources on organic systems, pest management, animal production, marketing, certification, conservation and much more.

Cottage Food Success: A Labeling Guide and Toolkit for Creating Canned Food Products that Sell

Ideas and step-by-step instructions to increase sales of canned products made in your home kitchen under your state’s cottage food law.

Sustainable Production and Use of On-Farm Energy

Using solar or wind energy or producing biofuels from crop feedstocks and anaerobic digestion helps farmers achieve energy independence while improving profitability and reducing fossil fuel emissions.

2017 National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health

Session recordings are available from the second National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health. The event served as an opportunity to learn recent developments in how cover crops are being used by innovative farmers across the country and gain important insights on improving soil health from producers, conservation leaders and scientists. It was held December 7-8, 2017 in Indianapolis.

Recordings of General Sessions

• Opening remarks by Jane Hardisty (USDA-NRCS Indiana) with video message Bill Northey (Iowa Secretary of Agriculture)
• Keynote: Growing a Revolution - Bringing Our Soil Back to Life, by David Montgomery (University of Washington)
• Farmer panel: Experiences with Cover Crops and Soil Health, with Dan DeSutter (Ind.), Trey Hill (Md.) and Jimmy Emmons (Okla.)
• Top 10 Ways Cover Crops Build Soil Health, by Rob Myers (North Central SARE)
• Plenary session: Carbonomics, by Keith Berns (Neb. farmer and Green Cover Seed)

Basics of Cover Cropping

• Introduction to Cover Crops
• Selecting and Establishing Cover Crops
• Terminating Cover Crops Plus Strategies for Planting a Cash Crop Following Cover Crops

Advanced Cover Cropping Insights from Farmer Experts

• Great Plains Perspective
• Central Corn Belt Perspective
• Eastern Perspective

Digging into Soil Health

• Soil Health Principles
• Soil Health Testing and Practices
• Soil Biology and Organic Matter

Cover Crop Role in the Cropping System

• Cover Crops and Nutrient Management
• Cover Crop Impacts on Diseases and Insects
• Cover Crops, Herbicides and Dealing with Herbicide-Resistant Weeds

Economic and Environmental Aspects of Cover Crops

• Economics of Cover Crops
• Business Opportunities with Cover Crops and Soil Health
• Environmental Impacts of Cover Crop Systems

Special Topics with Cover Crops and Soil Health

• Organic and Specialty Crops
• Grazing Cover Crops
• Soil Health Policy Issues

The Farmer Field Day Toolkit

New to organizing a field day? Take a look at the tips, tools and resources assembled here to help guarantee a successful event.