Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:07:17 -0500 Subject: Cover Crops Boosted Corn And Soybean Yields In 2012 Drought, Survey Shows From: [log in to unmask] To: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: July 15, 2013 Contact: Rob Myers, North Central Region SARE, phone 573-882-1547, email [log in to unmask] Cover Crops Boosted Corn And Soybean Yields In 2012 Drought, Survey Shows During last year’s historic drought, farmers who took advantage of cover crops, a soil-enhancing conservation practice, managed to improve their yields by as much as 14% compared to those who did not, a new survey shows. An increasing number of farmers are using cover crops in the fall and winter because of the many ways they improve soil and field conditions, but some farmers express concern that cover crops will impair yields of cash crops like corn and soybeans by competing too much for water, especially in fields that rely on rainfall. In fact, the findings of this survey indicate that the opposite is true—cover crops conserve water—and they can help farmers adapt to changing climate patterns. During the fall of 2012, corn fields following cover crops had a 9.6% increase in yield compared to side-by-side fields with no cover crops, according to the survey of more than 750 farmers who live across America’s agricultural heartland. Likewise, soybean yields were improved 11.6% following cover crops. In the hardest hit drought areas of the Corn Belt, yield differences were even larger, with an 11% yield increase for corn and a 14.3% increase for soybeans. The survey was conducted by the Conservation Technology Information Center with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) program. Most respondents farm in the Mississippi River Basin. “It is especially noteworthy how significant the yield benefits for cover crops were in an extremely dry year,” says Dr. Rob Myers, a University of Missouri agronomist and regional director of extension programs for NCR-SARE. “We think cover crops will be a key management strategy for farmers dealing with extreme weather situations in coming years, while providing a number of environmental benefits in watersheds across the country.” Along with protecting and improving soil in fields that would otherwise lie fallow, cover crops improve water quality and wildlife habitat, along with providing other environmental benefits. Common cover crops include crimson clover, hairy vetch, tillage radishes, oats and winter rye. The yield improvements provided from cover crops in 2012 were likely the result of a combination of factors. Plant residue left behind from cover crops creates a blanket that slows down evaporation, leaving more moisture in the soil for the following crop. Where cover crops have been used for several years, soil organic matter typically increases, which improves rainfall absorption into the soil and allows the soil to store more water. Improved soil organic matter also allows corn and soybean roots to travel deeper into the ground where more water can be found. The survey’s findings reflect that cover crops are an increasingly popular management strategy on farms. Surveyed farmers reported planting an average of more than 300 acres of cover crops per farm in 2012, a 350% increase from 2008. They used cover crops on a total of about 218,000 acres in 2012, and expected to increase that to over 300,000 acres in 2013. Nationwide, an estimated 1.5 million to 2 million acres of cover crops were planted in 2012. Farmers identified a variety of reasons for planting cover crops, the key benefit being improved soil health. Reduced loss of sediments, nitrogen and phosphorous from fields, and reductions in soil compaction from heavy tractors and harvesters were other key benefits cited. As one of the surveyed farmers commented, “Cover crops are just part of a systems approach that builds a healthy soil, higher yields, and cleaner water.” Full results of the survey are available online at: www.northcentralsare.org/covercropssurvey The SARE program has an informational site on cover crops at www.sare.org/covercrops Cover crop photos are available from NCR-SARE for media usage from Marie Flanagan, NCR-SARE regional communications specialist, at [log in to unmask] -- NCR-SARE UMN BioAgEng Bldg. Ste 120 1390 Eckles Avenue Saint Paul MN 55108 Direct Phone: 612.626.3113 Office Fax: 612.626.3132 On the web: http://www.northcentralsare.org/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NCRSARE On Twitter: https://twitter.com/ncrsare On YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/NCRSAREvideo P Please consider the environment before printing this email. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/