The Midwest Row Crop Collaborative (MRCC), a consortium that encourages farmers across the Corn Belt to use sustainable ag practices, has steadily grown since its inception in 2016 to include nearly 2,700 farmers. In its 2022 Impact Report, the MRCC said that 70% of participating farmers reported that cover crops support their farm’s financial goals. Washington County farmer Rob Stout is involved in the program and outlined some of the practices he uses on his farm.
Stout said there are many benefits to utilizing cover crops and other sustainable ag practices- and they’re not just all related to conservation.
Stout is also one of the few farmers in Iowa to have long-term research plots that compare cover cropped and non-cover cropped portions of his fields.
Stout said he’s also been hosting events on his farm to encourage other farmers to adopt similar conservation practices.
Stout added that it’s important for farmers to share their experiences with sustainable ag practices with each other so they can all make the best decisions for their operations.
For more information, visit midwestrowcrop.org.
