By Zach Clemens—Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
AMES, Iowa – Cover crops can enhance soil health by capturing nutrients, slowing erosion, and reducing the need for herbicides. Growers face many different decisions in the field, and the latest edition of the “Cover Crops Field Guide” will assist in some of those choices.
The popular, pocket-sized, in-field reference guide helps growers select, use, and grow cover crops effectively. Topics covered in the guide include everything from cover crop selection to cropping system recommendations and the impacts of different cover crops.
The guide was produced and is being released by the Midwest Cover Crops Council, which is comprised of representatives from 12 Midwest states, the province of Ontario, and additional agricultural stakeholders and universities, including Iowa State University.
This 162-page guide includes nearly 30 pages of new material, including cover crop suggestions for common rotations, up-and-coming cover crop species, effects on yields, climate considerations, and more. The species section of the guide has also been expanded to include white clover, forage brassicas, balansa clover and several cover crops that are commonly used in a mix.
The third edition field guide costs $6, and a 10% quantity discount is available on boxes of 25. It will be available to purchase in early December through the Iowa State University Extension Store.
The cover crop council will hold a live, one-hour webinar on Dec. 8 at 12:30 p.m. EST (11:30 a.m. CST) to outline the updates and answer questions. Registration is required for the webinar; to view a recorded version later, go to midwestcovercrops.org. Attendees who pre-register will be eligible to receive a free copy of the new field guide after the webinar; limited quantities are available.
