Title Year Category
Description

In a Nutshell: Proper management is required for successfully overcoming yield drag in corn following a cereal rye cover crop. This typically involves waiting 10-14 days between cover crop termination and corn planting as well as applying a …


Publish Date
April 2, 2019

PFI Staff
Stefan Gailans
Cooperators
Jon Bakehouse
Mike Jackson
Michael Vittetoe
Loran Steinlage
Jack Boyer
Description

By Hayley Nelson and Stefan Gailans In a Nutshell: The costs associated with planting and managing cover crops are a barrier to adoption for many growers despite the benefits to weed control and soil and water quality. Farmer-cooperator …


Publish Date
March 26, 2019

PFI Staff
Hayley Nelson
Cooperators
Sam Bennett
Description

In a Nutshell: Proper variety selection and timely management are necessary to raise a profitable oat crop. 16 oat varieties were screened at three Iowa State University research farms and one commercial farm. Key Findings: Top yield performers …


Publish Date
January 31, 2019

PFI Staff
Stefan Gailans
Cooperators
Matt Schnabel (ISU Northern Research Farm; ISU Ag Engineering and Agronomy Farm)
Ken Pecinovsky (ISU Northeast Research Farm)
Wendy Johnson
Collaborators
Brian Lang, ISU Extension and Outreach
Bruce Roskens, Grain Millers, Inc.
Description

In a Nutshell: Interseeding cover crops to corn at the V4 stage has been met with mixed success, likely because of shading by the tall corn canopy later in the season hindering cover crop growth. Cooperators evaluated the …


Publish Date
January 24, 2019

PFI Staff
Stefan Gailans
Cooperators
Fred Abels
Jack Boyer
Brian & Heather Kessel and Jim Johnson
Chris Teachout
Description

Summary Farmers reported that in 61 of 68 site-years, properly managed cover crops had little to no negative effect on corn and soybean yield (and actually increased soybean yield in 8 site-years and corn yield in 3 site-years).


Publish Date
January 3, 2019

PFI Staff
Stefan Gailans
Cooperators
Bill Buman
Randy Caviness
Jim Funcke
Devan Green
Rick Juchems
Rob Davis & Darwin Pierce
Mark Pokorny
George Schaefer
Jerry Sindt
Rob Stout
Gary & Dave Nelson
Kelly Tobin
Collaborators
Iowa Learning Farms
Description

In a Nutshell Eight fruit and vegetable farms provided a profit-loss statement and simple balance sheet for four years (2013 – 2016). Five of the farms averaged more than $24,000/ac in gross revenue for the 4-year period. Four …


Publish Date
June 18, 2018

PFI Staff
Liz Kolbe
Cooperators
8 PFI Fruit and Vegetable Producers
Description

In a Nutshell Four diversified vegetable farms planted strips of an annual flower mix. Farms assessed flower establishment and attractiveness to insects. Key Findings Buckwheat dominated the mix, providing early blooms but perhaps to the detriment of other …


Publish Date
April 12, 2018

PFI Staff
Liz Kolbe
Cooperators
Jill Beebout
Alice McGary
Rob Faux
Sarah Foltz Jordan
Description

In a Nutshell Green manure cover crops best fit into extended and diversified crop rotations between the small grain and corn phases of the rotation. They can either be underseeded with a small grain crops in early spring …


Publish Date
January 17, 2018

PFI Staff
Stefan Gailans
Cooperators
Doug Alert & Margaret Smith
Vic Madsen
David Weisberger and Mary Wiedenhoeft
Description

In a Nutshell Cover crops are typically either aerially seeded into standing crops around the time of physiological maturity in late summer or drilled immediately following crop harvest in the fall. In this study, two farmer-cooperators evaluated spring …


Publish Date
January 16, 2018

PFI Staff
Stefan Gailans
Cooperators
Jeremy Gustafson
Chris Teachout
Description

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 …


Publish Date
January 15, 2018

PFI Staff
Stefan Gailans
Cooperators
Jack Boyer
Jeremy Gustafson
Description

In a Nutshell Grazing cover crops can provide economic returns to farming operations within the same year cover crops are planted. This study is in its third year and is being conducted by farmers in the North Raccoon …


Publish Date
January 4, 2018

PFI Staff
Meghan Filbert
Cooperators
Wesley Degner
Bill Frederick
Mark Schleisman
Description

In a Nutshell Six farmers compared three or four lettuce varieties, Coastal Star, Hampton, Magenta, and Muir, to determine which produces better during summer months (harvest July – Sept.) in Iowa. Key Findings Magenta had the highest yields …


Publish Date
December 6, 2017

PFI Staff
Liz Kolbe
Cooperators
Jill Beebout
Carmen Black
Rob Faux
Alice McGary
Jordan Scheibel
Kate Edwards