In-person field days have been a thing of the past this year because of COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to learn. Michigan State University Extension and MSU AgBioResearch will host a cover crops virtual field day from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Sept. 2.

Researchers and outreach specialists will discuss how interseeding cover crops into standing corn can help to improve soil nutrients, reduce erosion and decrease weed development.

“We have tremendous expertise at MSU with respect to cover crops, from realizing the benefits to meeting the challenges growers may face,” says Dean Baas, an MSU Extension sustainable agriculture educator. “Producers, agribusiness professionals, government agency personnel and others interested in field crops production and management are encouraged to join us to grow their knowledge on this topic and interact with our experts.”

The virtual field day will begin with short introductions, followed by presentations for about an hour. After a short break, people will have the opportunity to participate in roundtable discussions and ask questions.

Roundtable topics are:

Soil health. Sieglinde Snapp, professor of soils and cropping systems ecology and associate director of the Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, will lead a discussion on how cover crops can enhance soil health. The roundtable will be hosted by MSU Extension educator Christina Curell.

Nutrient management. MSU Extension specialist Ricardo Costa will discuss cover crops as a part of an overall nutrient management system.

Erosion management. MSU Extension specialist Tim Harrigan will answer questions about using cover crops to manage different erosion types, from sheet to rill to wind. The roundtable will be hosted by MSU Extension educator Sarah Fronczak.

Timing. Karen Renner, a professor in the MSU Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, will discuss innovative ways to fit cover crops into the crop rotation. The roundtable will be hosted by MSU Extension educator Monica Jean.

Weed management. Christy Sprague, MSU Extension weed specialist, will discuss the latest research and recommendations to assist in controlling weeds by integrating cover crops into crop rotations. Specific topics will include why species matter, considering when to plant and what factors can affect cover crop establishment, and termination of cover crops with weed management in mind. The roundtable will be hosted by MSU Extension educator Paul Gross.

Organic systems. Growers are invited to share experiences in a transition or organic system to manage soils and use of various soil health amendments, including cover crops. MSU Extension specialists Vicki Morrone and Dan Brainard will be available to discuss and share experiences and knowledge. 

Forage and grazing. This roundtable with Kim Cassida, forage and cover crop specialist, will answer questions about ways to add value to cover crops by harvesting or grazing forage. The roundtable will be hosted by forage educator Phil Kaatz.

Participants must register online, and a Zoom link then will be sent. Any registration questions can be directed to Renae Latoski at [email protected].

Visit the Virtual Field Days website to learn more about MSU’s other virtual field day events.

Source: Michigan State University Extension, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.