For years, governments have channeled their support for agriculture through incentives that nudge you in directions they feel are beneficial, such as erosion control, clean water and wildlife habitat.

One of the tasks you can complete before spring is planting cover crops. February is a perfect time to broadcast some seeds and coat the ground with plants that benefit the soil in the long run. The ...

No matter the type of farm, there’s an advantage to planting soil-feeding cover crops ahead of fall and winter. The assistance provided depends on the crops you plant. But there is definitely one out ...

Cover crops play an important role in protecting the soil and water when cash crops like corn or soybean are not actively growing. The National Conservation Service promoted the use of cover crops ...

An Iowa farmer checks his cereal rye cover crop. Hawkeye State farmers plant more than 2 million acres of cover crops each year to prevent soil erosion and reduce the loss of nutrients. Editor’s note: ...

Editor’s note: The following was written by Ethan R. Thies, statewide conservation field specialist with Iowa State University Extension, for the Integrated Crop Management website March 13. We are ...