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COVER CROP STUDY

COVER CROP STUDY
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COVER CROP STUDY PURPOSE To evaluate the long-term effects of conventional tillage methods and no-till cover crop practices, side-by-side, on a 40-acre farm. In this study yield, soil health benefits, nutrient scavenging, and cost of each operation were evaluated. OBSERVATION Even with the wetter than normal growing conditions we experienced this past spring, we didn't experience issues with the planting conditions of either practice and the stands were consistent across both methods. In our first year of this study, there was virtually no difference in yield between the two practices. Looking at the ROI, planting cover crops is an added expense and the benefits can be hard to quantify. However, there is a cost associated with tillage that needs to be factored into the equation as well. The long-term benefits are what need to be considered in this study when demonstrating that the yields can be the same. STUDY INFORMATION | Planted 4/22/2017 | Harvested 10/2/2017 | Population 150,000 Seeds/A. | Row Width 15 in. | Previous Crop Corn | Tillage Various | Herbicides Burndown: 22 oz. Roundup PowerMAX®, 3.4 pt. 2,4-D Pre: 5 oz. Verdict®, 0.26 lb. TriCor® DF Post: 22 oz. Roundup PowerMAX® | Insecticides Escalate™ | Fungicides 4 oz. Priaxor® @ V2 | Brand 345R4 | Soil Type Del Rey and Patton (sandy silt loam and silty clay loam) | Soil Test Values pH 6.5, O.M. % 2.8, CEC 12.1 2017 Beck's Cover Crop Study

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PURPOSE To evaluate the long-term effects of conventional tillage methods and no-till cover crop practices. WEB ONLY | 2018 Beck's Practical Farm Research

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MULTI INDIANA KENTUCKY C.ILLINOIS The above image is the actual harvest yield monitor map. In this study, we took the end rows out of the final yield data. We felt it was important to show exactly how the farm was planted. The orange in the above image is the conventionally tilled side of the farm, and the blue is the cover crop no-till. OBSERVATION IOWA This year we did not see a yield penalty when planting corn after a cover crop. Planting conditions this year were optimal as the weather warmed up quickly in the spring. This provided an excellent opportunity for a perfect stand of corn in...

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