No-tiller Dan Forgey featured in SARE
Cover Crop video
Dan
Forgey, farm manager at Cronin Farms in South Dakota, has been using
no-till management for more than 17 years. Over that time, Forgey has
developed a keen understanding of how his farming system works and where
new challenges and opportunities exist. Several years ago, Forgey began
thinking about how he might include cover crops on the 8500-acre farm to
improve soil and the bottom line. But how best to do this in a no-till
system? Usually, cover crops are tilled into the soil while they are
still green in order to promote soil quality and fertility, but that is
not an option in a no-till system. Forgey received a SARE grant to test
the feasibility of using cover crops at Cronin Farms. It’s an on-going
experiment, but after three years, results are promising. One cover crop
mix of turnips, cowpeas and lentils increased corn yields by 18-20
bushels per acre in the SARE farm trials. Other benefits include:
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Healthier soil, with increasing
benefits over a period of 4 to 5 years
-
Better soil aggregation and texture
through the addition of organic matter and enhanced activity of soil
microorganisms.
-
Economic
savings as a result of reduced use of purchased fertilizer
Forgey is aware that the cover crops in this
system may perform differently in drought years, when a cover crop could
deplete soil water needed by the cash crop (wheat, corn, soybeans). He
will monitor this closely in coming years. As for managing cover crops
without tillage, Forgey's answer is to have his cattle graze them. Enjoy
watching this video to learn more.
*Credit for video goes to the SARE Program and
"Cooking up a story"
Click here to view or download the original video
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