FW: From seed to soil, cover crops amplify the benefits to the farm

[Teresa Matteson]

 

 

From: SWCS Conservation NewsBriefs <sw...@multibriefs.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 7, 2022 7:09 AM
To: Teresa Matteson <tmat...@bentonswcd.org>
Subject: From seed to soil, cover crops amplify the benefits to the farm

 

 

This message was sent to tmat...@bentonswcd.org To advertise in this publication please click here       April 7, 2022 Conservation NewsBriefs is a weekly compilation of news stories of interest to SWCS members and stakeholders. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect official policy of the Soil and Water Conservation Society unless otherwise stated. The products mentioned herein are not endorsed by the Soil and Water Conservation Society unless so stated.   From seed to soil, cover crops amplify the benefits to the farm Successful Farming Cover crops have seized the spotlight. After an active year in 2021, where input prices soared, carbon programs multiplied, and millions of dollars were invested in climate-smart practices, the surge of interest in cover crops isn't subsiding soon. With the spotlight come rumors of seed shortages and hype around potential profit boosters such as growing your own seed to sell.   READ MORE   IPCC report charts detail climate change CNBC Climate change has not been caused by one bad actor, and it won't be solved by one silver bullet. Instead, climate change is being caused by a web of problems and is being addressed by another web of mitigation and adaptation strategies. It's a complicated story and the charts, included as part of the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report which was published Monday, tell the story visually, which can be helpful   READ MORE   Most of Louisiana's waterways are polluted. Biggest reasons? Fertilizer and sewage WWNO Land runoff from farms and home sewage systems is the greatest threat to Louisiana’s waterways, according to a new analysis from the Environmental Integrity Project, a national nonpartisan watchdog.   READ MORE     Cover crops more effective than insecticides for managing pests, study suggests Penn State Promoting early season plant cover, primarily through the use of cover crops, can be more effective at reducing pest density and crop damage than insecticide applications, according to a Penn State-led team of researchers. In a newly published study, the researchers suggest that the best pest management outcomes may occur when growers encourage biological control — in the form of pests' natural enemies — by planting cover crops and avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides as much as possible.   READ MORE   Female farmers lead regenerative farming efforts globally Alberta Farmer Many female farmers here are champions of sustainable farming, but their global counterparts have long been feeding the world using these management practices.   READ MORE   Climate change causes a run on banks, for crop genes Mongabay As climate change brings extreme conditions to more parts of the world, the requests to draw down the savings kept in crop genebanks are evolving. European countries facing rising temperatures like Portugal, Spain and Italy, as well as research institutes and even farmers are requesting not only samples of food crops to breed hardier varieties, but also forages, the plants that feed livestock and maintain healthy soils.   READ MORE   A Utah town is running dry. Its solution stoked an age-old water war The Guardian Cedar City proposes to pump water from valleys outside the county, a plan opponents fear would irreversibly harm delicate ecosystems.   READ MORE   Aquatic drone measures water quality throughout river networks with precision and speed Oak Ridge National Laboratory via Phys.org Measuring water quality throughout river networks with precision, speed and at lower cost than traditional methods is now possible with AquaBOT, an aquatic drone developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.   READ MORE   Longtime advocate of soil health practices studies cover crops, fertilizer and row spacing Agweek This season, Ed McNamara will experiment with row width, spacing and different types of manure. He was part of a three-year University of Minnesota and Cannon River Watershed Partners research project that finished in 2021.   READ MORE   Op-Ed: How comprehensive planning can make or break water quality BlueRidgeNow As Henderson County moves forward with drafting the new 2045 Comprehensive Plan that will guide development for the next quarter-century, it is critical to consider what is at stake for our rivers and streams. The outcome of this planning process will influence water quality for decades to come.   READ MORE     Conservation NewsBriefs Connect with Soil and Water Conservation Society Hailey Golden, Director of Publishing, Multiview, 469-420-2630 | Download media kit Rebecca Eberhardt, Asst. Executive Editor, Multiview, 469-420-2608 | Contribute News Soil and Water Conservation Society 945 SW Ankeny Road   |  Ankeny, Iowa 50023-9723   515-289-2331  |  Contact Us  |  www.swcs.org Click here to unsubscribe.  Learn how to add us to your safe sender list so our emails get to your inbox.         ADVERTISE   SUBSCRIBE   PAST ISSUES       7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063