As input costs continue to rise, farmers are looking for ways to reduce costs while maintaining yields. Nitrogen is one of the costliest inputs, and fortunately there is a way to reduce the amount of nitrogen you apply without kneecapping your yields. Mark Peterson, a Practical Farmers of Iowa member from Stanton, Iowa, said he’s using cover crops to build organic matter, hitting 220-bushel of corn while keeping inputs low and proving that what’s good for the environment can be even better for the bottom line.
Several ag states, like Iowa and Illinois, are working on trying to better control nutrient runoff.
Peterson said it is possible to increase organic matter and have extra nitrogen through the proper use of cover crops.
For more information, visit practicalfarmers.org.
