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MN farmer reduces erosion with cover crops and rotation

A southeastern Minnesota farmer is using cover crops and crop rotation to reduce soil erosion and increase yield.

Brock Olson, a corn and soybean grower from Welch, tells Brownfield he’s going into year three of a research project supported by the Minnesota Corn Growers.

“The third crop in the rotation that I added was winter rye. And the first year I grew winter rye for seed, followed that with a multi-species cover crop and got really good growth because it was planted in August.”

He says the increased residue cut down on erosion and nitrate loss.

The following year, Olson no-tilled corn into that cover crop.

“I saw a 20-bushel increase over other fields in similar situations, but no cover crops.”

This year Olson plans to no-till soybeans on those acres.