Cover Crops
We provide farmers and ag professionals with information, anecdotes and research about adding cover crops to current conventional, organic or other farming systems.
Programs
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Cover Crops
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Midwest Grazing Exchange
Expanding integrated crop-livestock systems can offer a range of benefits for farmers, the environment and rural communities. But accessing land to graze, or finding livestock farmers to partner with, can be a barrier.
The Midwest Grazing Exchange is a free matchmaking service that aims to connect graziers seeking land to graze with landowners in six Midwestern states. It was created to help farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin find livestock or land to graze.
The Midwest Grazing Exchange is a free matchmaking service that aims to connect graziers seeking land to graze with landowners in six Midwestern states. It was created to help farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin find livestock or land to graze.
Upcoming Cover Crop Events
Network with and learn from other farmers who grow cover crops at our events.
Latest Cover Crop Posts
Explore posts about types of cover crops, planting tips, termination methods, soil health and more.
PFI Resource Links
Explore these PFI resources to help you plan, manage and optimize your use of cover crops.
External Resource Links
These trusted external resources offer research-based guidance, regional insights and practical tools to support effective cover crop management.
- Economic Value of Cover Crops Report
- Cover Crop Termination Guidelines
- Prevented Planting Fact Sheet
- SARE's “Managing Cover Crops Profitably” book
- Midwest Cover Crops Council
- Joel Gruver's Alternative Technologies for Timely Cover Crop Establishments
- Ohio State University Sustainable Crop Rotations with Cover Crops
- Estimating Plant-Available Nitrogen Release from Cover Crops, Oregon State
- Cover Cropping for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects
Tools
Partners
With cover crops promising such tangible benefits for farmers and the environment, Practical Farmers is working to increase cover crop use in Iowa and the Midwest. We're also working with the following key partners to decrease barriers for farmers wanting to add cover crops:
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Join our expanding network and take part in an open exchange of practical information to improve our farms and communities.