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Farm News/Fort Dodge, Iowa
Friday, March 28, 2025
1C
SPRING FARM 2025
-Farm News photo by Darcy Dougherty Maulsby
AREA FARMERS ATTEND a “Planter Settings to Plant Into Cover Crops” workshop sponsored by the Iowa Soybean Association recently in Jefferson.
PLANTING GREEN How to grow good stands into cover crops By DARCY DOUGHERTY MAULSBY Farm News writer
J
EFFERSON — As concerns about drought loom over many parts of Iowa this spring, more farmers are keying in on ways to manage soil moisture more effectively. Cover crops and reduced tillage (strip till or no-till) can be part of the solution. These practices require smart management, rather than lots of inputs or high-dollar attachments or accessories. “I’m cheap, so I don’t like to buy anything I don’t have to,” said Bill Frederick, a Greene County farmer who co-owns Iowa Cover Crop, a fullservice cover crop business based in Jefferson. Frederick and his fellow cover croppers value the erosion control, weed suppression and nutrient scavenging that cover crops provide on their acres. Some of these growers (as well as farmers who are just getting started with cover crops) gathered at Iowa Cover Crop on March 12 for the “Planter Settings to Plant Into Cover Crops” workshop sponsored by the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA). About 15 farmers and other ag professionals gathered to discuss planter settings to ensure a good stand after a cover crop. “When you’re planting green, you swear that the people passing by your field are going to drive into the ditch,” said Pete Bardole, a Greene County farmer who has extensive experience with cover crops. “They can’t believe what they’re seeing.” Other farmers at the meeting who have experience planting green could relate. Some common themes came See PLANTER, Page 2C
“When you’re planting green, you swear that the people passing by your field are going to drive into the ditch. They can’t believe what they’re seeing.” PETE BARDOLE Greene County farmer who has extensive experience with cover crops
-Farm News photo by Darcy Dougherty Maulsby
BILL FREDERICK (second from right), one of the owners of Iowa Cover Crop in Jefferson, offers tips about planting into cover crops. Now that he’s seen the benefits of incorporating cover crops onto his acres year after year, Frederick said he can’t imagine farming without cover crops.
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