Special Report

Alternative crops will help farmers improve soil and bottom line  

Alternative crops add diversity to cropping systems and help farmers improve soil health AND their bottom line.

Dr. Rob Myers is the regional director of extension programs with the University of Missouri.

“As farmers are looking at what they can do with their farms going forward, the first goal is to make enough money this year to stay in business,” he says. “But beyond that, all farmers are concerned about the health of their soil and we’ve learned in recent years that if we can grow a little bit more diversity of crops then that is good for the soil.”

He tells Brownfield some alternative crop options are canola, sunflowers, chestnuts, and more.

Myers says growing seed for cover crops will also help farmers as it’s projected to be a $1 billion market in the next several years.

“We’re seeing with cover crops some real benefits for soil health,” he says. “So as farmers are learning more about improving the health of their soils I think we’ll see some more farmers using them.”

He says cover crops will also provide grazing opportunities and help growers manage herbicide resistance weeds, which is why more than 50,000 farmers are growing cover crops in the U.S.

Myers spoke with Brownfield at the NAFB Convention in Kansas City.

Audio: Rob Myers, University of Missouri