Cover crops provide long-term soil health benefits. However, incorporating the conservation practice adds risk and expense, and let’s face it, cover crops can be a challenge to figure out. 

Fortunately, resources are available – from mentorship to funding – to help farmers get started with cover crops. To promote awareness about these opportunities, Keith Scoggins and Bill Robertson teamed up for a presentation at the Agricultural Council of Arkansas meeting on Aug. 15. 

Through their years of experience, dedication, and trial and error, Scoggins and Robertson have developed a deep understanding of cover crops.   

Keith Scoggins, (left), and Bill Robertson. (right), teamed up to share their experiences with cover cropping and soil health at a meeting for the Agricultural Council of Arkansas on Aug. 15. (Photo by Whitney Haigwood)

Scoggins serves as the Arkansas Soil Health Specialist and Agronomist with the USDA National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Robertson is now an independent conservation agronomist. His career includes stints at the National Cotton Council and Cooperative Extension Service for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Together, they presented the principles of soil health in addition to resources and funding opportunities centered around cover cropping. They also shared tips for success and attendees were invited to participate in an open-floor discussion. 

Soil health: A systems approach 

Scoggins highlighted soil health principles to conserve the soil ecosystem. He explained how minimized disturbance and maximized cover help protect the soil, resulting in a continuous living roots system and improved biodiversity that feeds the soil. 

Related:6 points to consider with cover crops

“Obviously we have to apply soil health as a systems approach,” Scoggins said, as he gave a relatable illustration.  

“All of you have a toolbox in the back of your truck. Well, why do you have a toolbox? Just carry a crescent wrench. If fixes everything, right?” Attendees chuckled at the thought. Scoggins continued, “There is not one practice that fixes everything. It has to be a systems approach. You have to have the whole toolbox.” 

Practices that support soil function also qualify for funding through USDA-NRCS. Scoggins focused on payments through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) which can help farmers navigate the cost of implementing cover crops. 

Minimized disturbance maintains soil nutrients and helps manage erosion. This can be achieved with residue and tillage management to protect soil function. Additionally, soil protection practices help buffer soil temperature, reduce evaporation and maintain soil organic matter. 

Scoggins said when deciding on a residue-and-tillage management practice, he steers producers toward reduced tillage instead of no-till. 

Related:Cover crops: How to boost biomass and soil organic carbon

“Why am I telling you not to no-till? Because, no-till is literally that,” he said. “So, if you have a wet fall and you have to do some tillage, you are not going to get that payment if the acres are enrolled in no-till.” 

He explained that reduced tillage allows farmers to do things like spot tillage, work ruts, and still receive payment on qualified acres. Even better, Scoggins said reduced-tillage pays around $4 per acre more than no-till. 

Benefits of biodiversity 

In addition to NRCS assistance, Scoggins emphasized the potential savings for farmers who plant cover crops. The practice sets them up to reduce input costs for irrigation, crop nutrition, and insecticides. 

To maximize the benefits, cover crops should be included in a cash crop rotation, providing a continuous living roots system which increases soil organic matter and feeds soil microbes. From there, microbial activity works to enhance biodiversity and improve water holding capacity and nutrient availability. In time, farmers can realize input cost savings. 

Scoggins explained that 1% soil organic matter converts to over 26,000 gallons of water holding capacity, or one-acre-inch of irrigation water. This keeps moisture in the ground and improves water use efficiency. In turn, farmers who plant cover crops can extend intervals between irrigation events. 

Soil microbial activity also promotes nutrient cycling. Scoggins referred to soil test results that indicate nutrients in the soil as “not available.” He explained, “The nutrients are there, but we need microbial activity to make those nutrients plant-available.” 

Furthermore, cover cropping encourages beneficial insects which can break pest cycles. Scoggins said from his experience, “When I was farming, we did counts prior to planting and our range was anywhere from 60 to 85 beneficial insects for every 1 pest we had. 

“If we can lay off some insecticides and do a better job of scouting, then there are a lot of beneficial insects out there.” 

Cover crop resources and assistance 

Robertson took the stage, and said his interest in soil health was sparked around 20 years ago when he recognized the importance of sustainability to the supply chain. Since then, he has experienced many learning curves in his work across the ag industry to study the best management practices of cover crops.  

He said finding an experienced mentor is the best starting point. “Having someone you can go to who has ‘been there and done that’ with cover crops can keep you from falling in the same hole twice,” Robertson said. 

One such resource is the Arkansas Soil Health Alliance, a group of farmers who serve as cover crop mentors to others who are converting to the practice. Members of the ASHA also learn from one another and are available to answer questions and help troubleshoot through the process. 

Funding opportunities are also available, like: EQIP, EQIP – IRA (Inflation Reduction Act), and Climate Smart initiatives to fund soil health practices. Robertson said, “Bottom line, we cannot afford to leave money on the table.” 

From Scoggins’ perspective at the USDA-NRCS, he said EQIP is where it’s at for Arkansas farmers. Funding dollars for the Natural State include: 

Scoggins also pointed out that EQIP planned cover crop acreage in 2024 was only 104, 947 acres of the total planted 6.2 million acres in Arkansas. That calculates to only 1.5% of the state’s total row crop acres in rotation with cover crops. 

There is potential to increase cover cropped acres with available funding. Plus, he said acreage caps have increased for EQIP contracts. For the practices of cover crop, residue management, and crop rotation, each is now capped at 1,000 acres. 

“We had complaints in the past that acres were too low, so we have increased those acres per contract. You can now have more than one contract per entity,” Scoggins said. 

EQIP sign-up in Arkansas is planned for mid-November. Scoggins said for more information, you can contact your local NRCS office, and they can put you in touch with him. 

“I will be more than happy to come out to your farm so you can start implementing cover crop,” he said. 

For more information on cover crop BMPs, see the story 6 points to consider with cover crops.