A field trial to measure the effect of the continuous use of a cover crop in a corn and soybean crop rotation has been ongoing since the fall of 2012 at Randy Ziegler’s farm near Fredericksburg, Lebanon County, Pa. Penn State Extension Educators John Rowehl and Del Voight visited Randy to discuss his use of cover crops and no-till planting to increase the soil quality in his fields.

Erosion control used to be the first thing you’d think about when hearing about cover crops. Today though, more farmers are associating the term with soil health.

ADDITIVE IMPACT: Ziegler found that soil health, texture and organic matter improved over the long term by teaming up no-till and cover crops.

Increasing organic matter and diversity of microbes in the soil, nitrogen production or recycling and compaction management are other terms that go along with cover crop use. But what do those things mean to a farmer when he looks at his bottom line? Is the added time, management and cost involved going to increase crop yields? These are the questions this field trial is attempting to address.

For Ziegler’s analysis of what he’s finding in his fields, click here.

About Ziegler’s farm
Randy’s farm operation is comprised of 240 acres of owned and rented land. The dairy facility is currently rented out to another farmer that milks 50 Holsteins.

Ziegler has an agreement to supply forage crops for the dairy operation. His cropping system includes corn silage and hay, small grains, grain corn and soybeans.

Randy began no-tilling crops about 15 years ago, and has been complete no-till for the last 8 years. During that same period, the farm has been enrolled in the Lebanon County Crop Management Program. Soil test records document rising soil organic matter levels.

About this weekly network report
This Pennsylvania Soybean Research On-Farm Network report centers on applied research projects of interest to Pennsylvania soybean growers. It’s a collaborative effort of the Pennsylvania Soybean Board and Penn State Extension. This is the first in a weekly growing season series.

A portion of the check-off funds from every bushel of soybeans sold in Pennsylvania is allocated for research to benefit soybean farmers for increasing utilization or production of soybeans. The Soybean Check-Off board of directors is comprised of soybean farmers from across the Commonwealth who determine research priorities.

The On-Farm Network project, spearheaded by Penn State Extension’s Voight, provides real-life, on-farm production-scale data to aid farmers in ongoing crop management decision-making. Farms throughout Pennsylvania with varying field, equipment and crop conditions contribute to the project’s data.