The Water Table

#127 | Cover Crops & No-Till: A Conservationist’s Perspective

Jamie Duininck Episode 127

Cover crops and no-till… How will they impact your bottom line? We’re joined by fan-favorite and Conservation Manager, Ruth McCabe, to dig into the benefits and drawbacks of these increasingly popular conservation practices. We're tackling the tough questions: Do cover crops boost yields? How do they affect soil health? Why are these practices being adopted from Iowa to Minnesota and beyond? This is the first of several insightful conversations with Ruth you won't want to miss!


Chapters:

00:00 Welcome Ruth McCabe

01:00 What is going on at Heartland Co-op and Beyond?

04:41 Cover Crops

05:51 Ruth's Experience and a Balanced View of Cover Crops 

08:33 Regional Differences in Cover Crop Adoption 

11:29 Benefits and Considerations for Cover Crop Use 

14:00 The Leaky Root

16:26 Warming up the Soil

18:52 No-till + Cover Crops = So Many Bonuses

20:43 The Learning Curve and Potential Yield Impact of New Practices

22:00 Short-Term Yield Hits, Long-Term Benefits

23:52 Guidance is Key


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