Flip Your Soil: Can Large Operators or Farmers in Drier Climates Successfully Use Cover Crops?

Many larger farmers are apprehensive about using cover crops to Flip their Soil, and that is also true in drier climates.  However, in Nebraska farmers have been successful at using cover crop for years. 

In the southwest where they face moisture deficits nearly every growing season, farmers say cover crops provide cover and protect soil moisture.  Plus, there are many other pluses for growers to consider.   Nebraska farmer Adam Heskett says, "I think we've all been exposed to the benefits of cover crops, but it's actually taking that first step and not large scale. But find the field that maybe you have a problem with. Doesn't have to be big work with somebody in the industry that has knowledge and start integrating a few practices with those cover crops and don't give up."

And every farmer’s goals for cover crops are different, so formulate a plan.   Neil Dominy, Assistant State Conservationist for Partnerships, Nebraska Natural Resource Conservation Service says, "I believe you need to have purpose when you do it.  So you should understand why you’re cover cropping, what you’re trying to do.  Whether its for weed suppression, whether it is some additional grazing for cattle or whether its soil erosion, you want to protect your soil."

Dominy says when working with producers they take different approaches for those with livestock and without.  And for those with cattle it’s easier to understand economically because they can recoup some of the cost through grazing.