Latest news with #covercrops
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PepsiCo and Cargill partner to promote regenerative practices in Iowa
A farmer plants soybeans into a cover cropped field. (Photo by Brandon O'Connor/NRCS) PepsiCo and Cargill have announced plans to expand sustainable farming practices on 240,000 acres of Iowa cropland by 2030. The brands will partner with Practical Farmers of Iowa, which will give technical and financial support to farmers as they implement practices like cover crops, reduced tillage and steps to reduce nitrogen application on their operations. According to a press release from PepsiCo, the effort will center on the 'shared corn supply chain' in Iowa, from which Cargill produces ingredients for PepsiCo products. PepsiCo, in addition to soda brands, owns products like Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos and more. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'Together, the companies aim to deepen supply chain resilience, support positive outcomes for farming communities by helping them implement regenerative practices, and unlock new opportunities for advancing sustainable agriculture at scale,' the release said. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show about 13.1 million acres across Iowa were planted with corn, for all purposes, in 2024. The release said the collaboration with Practical Farmers of Iowa is 'key' to scaling regenerative agriculture practices, and Jim Andrew, PepsiCo's chief sustainability officer, said the effort creates 'shared value and long-term sustainability.' 'By working with farmers to understand what's best for their farms and partnering across the supply chain we can accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices that can result in healthier soil, reduced emissions, and improved crop yields and livelihoods for farmers,' Andrew said in the release. PepsiCo's goal is to 'drive adoption' of these practices on 10 million acres globally by 2030, and according to the release, Cargill aims to do the same on 10 million North American acres over the next five years. Cargill's Chief Sustainability Officer Pilar Cruz said it will drive 'measurable results' where the food chain starts, at the farm. 'By coming together across the value chain, we can help create the conditions for regenerative agriculture to take root and grow,' Cruz said in a statement. 'The collaboration offers a model for how we can drive meaningful impact at scale.' The partners aim to improve soil health, resiliency to the impacts of a changing climate and farm productivity while also integrating farmers into 'sustainably-focused' supply chains. PepsiCo declined to share the financial investment the project represents. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ikes fundraiser to support Minnesota Soil Health Coalition
Jun. 13—The Izaak Walton League will be holding another Steak Cookout Fundraiser this coming week, this time for the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition to promote soil health practices, Local farmers in the group will be on hand to answer questions about soil health and how cover crops can be a great addition to farming practices. Local farmers are encouraged to attend. The cook-out will be from 5:30-7 p.m. on June 18 at the Izaak Walton Cabin in Todd Park. Menu includes: a 12 ounce New York strip steak, baked potato, baked beans, and coleslaw and free hot dogs for kids. This fundraiser is open to the public. Tickets are $20 and are available at the door.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ashland County SWCD offers cost share for cover crops - what farmers need to know
As agriculture continues to evolve and new ways of farming are being developed, cover crops have become more and more popular among farmers in Ohio. Studies are showing a little over 80% of no-till farmers in Ohio apply cover crops to fields. When it comes to cover crops, there is a lot of unknowns on how to handle them. Timing is everything. From the moment the seed is planted to the time the plant is terminated it is crucial to have a plan in place to properly manage them. With cover crops becoming more an more common, many questions arise. What should be planted? How should they be terminated? Or will they compete with our cash crops? Many types of cover crops can be used and it is important to plant them according to your needs. Legumes such as clover, alfalfa and winter pea are planted to provide nitrogen to the soil through nitrogen fixation. Other cover crops such as rye, wheat and oats can provide nitrogen as well as potassium and phosphorus to the soil. The thing to remember is cover crops are an investment in the health of the soil. No investment brings instant results or gratification, however, with some time and effort they can bring tremendous results. A healthy cover crop not only provides nutrients to the soil but also maintains soil structure. Additionally we can add that a full cover crop stand can greatly aid in preventing soil erosion. In the same way native grasses hold together a waterway or a tree root system holds together a river bank, cover crop root systems holds the soil together in a field during heavy winds or rain. The root systems greatly improves soil structure and the soils ability to wick away water during a wet season. It is critical to note the cover crops ability to wick away water also can be a disadvantage when experiencing a dry season. We want to make sure there is enough moisture left in the ground to be able to give cash crops a start. Having a plan in place to effectively terminate the cover crops is necessary to help prevent this situation. After the cover crops come up in the spring and it is time to plant the cash crops, it is important to establish a good method of terminating the cover crop. One method is to roller crimp it. By crimping the cover crop once the head fills out, it causes it to die because the stems become crimped and the vascular system is damaged, causing the flow of water up the stem to be disrupted. Roller crimper termination is most effective with cover crops that have straw like stems that hollow out when the head goes to seed. Wheat, barley and rye respond well to a roller crimper whereas clovers do not. Another way to terminate cover crops is to work them in with light tillage such as a discing, shallow plowing, chisel plowing or some form of vertical till. This provides excellent green manure for the soil. Termination by animal grazing is also a great method to take of cover crops. The final termination method involves a chemical burn down on the field to kill the cover crop. Some cover crops such as cereal rye and vetch may benefit from being burned down because of their invasive nature when not completely terminated at the proper time. In the end it is important to take the time to figure out what method of cover crop termination is going to be best for your fields. Our team at the Ashland Soil and Water Conservation is dedicated to helping local farmers thrive on their land. Cover crops are an expense that can be difficult to handle, especially with the rising seed costs and planting costs. This year the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy is offering a cover crop cost share program to help farmers in the watershed manage that cost. The program offers a $12 per acre cost share payment and an additional $10 per acre cost share available for cover crop acres terminated by animal grazing. There is a 175-acre limit for acres that can be approved for the cost share. Farms within the Charles Mill and Pleasant Hill Lake watersheds are automatically approved for cover crop cost share in order to prevent soil erosion into the lakes. In order to apply, all fields must have soil tests taken no earlier than fall. Producers must provide invoices of the seed purchased, and seed tags must be provided to ensure good germination and low weed seed content. If seed tags are not available, the seed will need to be tested by the Ohio Department of Agriculture for weed seed content. Additionally, cover crop plantings are required to follow NRCS standards in order to apply for the cost share. For more information on cover crops, or if you are interested in applying for cover crop cost share call Brennen Hart at Ashland Soil and Water Conservation at 419-289-4828 or come visit our office at 110 Cottage Street Ashland, Ohio 44805. If you are interested in other conservation practices visit Brennen Hart is a soil conservation specialist wit the Asholand County Soil and Water Conservation District. This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland farmers can get help with cover crops at Soil and Water office
