Cover Crops
ISAP’s Introduction to Soil Health Practices
The Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership’s recent publication, “An Introduction to Soil Health Practices,” clearly communicates the role of soil health practices in addressing agronomic challenges and resource concerns. Co-author Torey Colburn, Conservation Agronomist with American Farmland Trust, and Helen VanBeck, Program Manager with American Farmland Trust provide an overview of the practical agronomic information included in the guidebook, including how practices like cover crops and no-till, when managed correctly, can build soil health in the field, suppress weed pressure, and limit nutrient loss. Torey and Helen are also joined by two farmers whose stories are shared in the guidebook as real-world examples of how farmers are finding success with these practices.
Watch VideoIllinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy & Agricultural Conservation Practices
This 1-pager created by Illinois Extension, gives a brief overview of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (INLRS), highlights nutrient loss in Illinois, impacts of nutrient loss, and conservation practices that can address in-field and edge of field nutrient loss.
Download DocumentsDigging Deeper: Cover Crop Mixes
Cover crop mixes are a great tool that can be used to address a wide range of field concerns and production goals. This resource is meant to guide your design of a cover crop mix that is applicable to your production environment, highlight various considerations of mix designs, and support your development of an adaptive strategy to successfully use multispecies cover crops on your farm.
View WebsiteThe Financial Implications of Conservation Agriculture Booklet
This booklet aims to inform farmers’ key partners—in particular, farm business management educators, agricultural lenders, and conservation educators and professionals—about the financial costs and benefits of conservation agriculture practices to assist their work with farmers.
The sections for each of these practices are also available as separate fact sheets that can be accessed here.
View WebsitePrecision Conservation Management: The Business Case for Conservation
Precision Conservation Management (PCM), is a program of IL Corn and Illinois Soybean Association. PCM released their annual “Business Case for Conservation” that offers data highlights gleaned from farmers in Illinois. The results are useful for farmers across much of the Midwest in regard to nitrogen application, cover crops, and tillage management.
View WebsiteNational Cover Crop Survey Report 2022-2023
From increasing yield to improving soil health, find out why farmers use cover crops. Since 2012, SARE, CTIC and other partner organizations have periodically conducted a national survey of farmers on their experiences with cover crops.
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