News
Federal grant aimed at getting more Missouri farmers to grow cover crops
The Missouri Department of Agriculture will receive $2.4 million to expand no-till and cover crops in Missouri. The grant, from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will be used to assist Missouri farmers and ranchers to plant 20,000 acres in cover crops annually. Missouri Director of Agriculture Richard Fordyce, who plants cover crops on his own farm, tells Brownfield the cover crops provide benefits.
“The first thing that comes to mind is a reduction in soil erosion, but you see an improvement in soil tilth, you see an improvement in organic matter percentages in the soil,” Fordyce told Brownfield Ag News following the announcement at the Missouri Soybean Association Bay Farm near Columbia Wednesday. “Some of the other benefits that we’ve noticed: the cover crops compete with weeds, so in a good cover crop program weed management is much easier.”
The state project will encourage producers to use land management practices that address both soil health and water quality.
The Missouri Soybean Growers Bay Farm at Columbia is doing research on cover crops. Research Director Greg Luce says planting cover crops is a long-term proposition.
“Cover crops is not something that just is an overnight-type thing,” said Luce, standing near the farm’s own winter rye strip trials. “It’s something that growers would need to be dedicated with, to stay with for a long time, but we know the benefits of erosion control and having wheat, cereal rye or other cover crops out there through the winter is definitely a good thing for holding our soil in place.”
NRCS State Conservationist J.R. Flores made the presentation to the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
AUDIO: Richard Fordyce (6 min. MP3)
AUDIO: J.R. Flores (3 min. MP3)
-
-
Wow, I totally agree with Dick Swanson – American taxpayers should not have to provide funds for a farmer or rancher to manage the soil on their land. This is part of being a good steward, and reducing pollution of our waterways which I believe they are expected to do!
WHY does the tax payer need to pay anything towards the private company for profit that does not….repeat…not follow best management practices and soil conservation…? Cover crops are NOT a new secret weapon for soil management….this practice has been around for decades….and now they want money because they have abused the land and natural resources…..MAN-UP…..YOUR THE PROBLEM….not the soil….!