Farmer-Led Research

In a Nutshell An earlier seeding date opens up the opportunity for more diverse cover crops like brassicas and legumes that need more time and heat units to grow than common cover crops like cereal rye. Two farmer-cooperators …

In a Nutshell Cover crops are gaining new attention for their ability to reduce weed pressure in soybeans. Specifically, when seeding soybeans directly into a thick cover crop. Farmer-cooperators Jack Boyer and Scott Shriver investigated the effect of …

In a Nutshell If cover crops can successfully be established when interseeded into corn in June, this may permit farmers to use existing equipment (rather than high-clearance machines or airplanes); may permit the use of more diverse cover …

In a Nutshell Delaying cover crop termination until near soybean planting would allow for more biomass production by the cover crop in the spring presenting the opportunity for more environmental benefit. Two farmer-cooperators continued work they began in …

This research was funded by the Walton Family Foundation. In a Nutshell: Since 2015, a cohort of PFI farmers has been conducting on-farm research to determine how late they can delay the termination date of cover crops relative …

In a Nutshell: Strategies are needed to offset the cost of cover crops that precede corn while minimizing yield drag and seedling diseases and maximizing cover crop benefits. In the second year of a two-year project, four cooperators …

This project was supported by the Walton Family Foundation In a Nutshell: Interseeding cover crops to corn at the V4 stage has gained attention for its potential to foster successful diverse species mixes and generate more biomass than …

In a Nutshell Fungal diseases and lodging can present challenges to raising small grain crops, like cereal rye, in Iowa. Farmer-cooperators investigated the use of fungicides and plant growth regulators on cereal rye seed crops to determine effects …