Cover Crop Strategies Podcast

First-generation farmer James Hepp, of Rockwell City, Iowa, joins us for this week’s edition of Cover Crop Strategies, brought to you by Verdesian Life Sciences. In just his third year on the job, Hepp is already seeing several benefits from cover crops, perhaps none bigger than weed control.

Joe Hamilton was a mechanical engineer for 12 years before returning to the farm in 2015. He farms about 2,500 acres, growing corn and soybeans with his family in East Central Ind. For this edition of Cover Crop Strategies, brought to you by Verdesian Life Sciences, Joe gives us the rundown on all the species that cover nearly 75% of his farm, including annual ryegrass, barley, cereal rye, oats, rapeseed and crimson clover.

For this episode of Cover Crop Strategies, brought to you by Verdesian Life Sciences, we’re tapping into TJ Kartes’ knowledge about all things cover crops, from seeding tips to some of the biggest challenges his customers face. We’ll also get TJ’s take on equipment trends, potential regulations, cover crop myths and why farmers shouldn’t wait until the last minute to order seeds for the fall.

The Augustians are all in on cover crops. Aaron, along with his dad, Eddie, just built a 30-foot, 12-row interseeder to plant cover crops into corn. As far as they know, it’s the first interseeder of its kind. For this installment of Cover Crop Strategies, brought to you by Verdesian Life Sciences, Aaron tells us how the new interseeder works and breaks down the key to getting a successful cover crop stand.

We’re headed to Bardwell, Ky., where Reddick Farms recently won the 2022 Leopold Conservation Award. Fresh off capturing the prestigious honor, the father-son duo of Brad and Joel Reddick join us for a conversation about conservation. The Reddicks grow cover crops on every acre of their farm, and they’re considered pioneers in Western Kentucky when it comes to planting green.

A new cover crop, Nuseed Carinata, set to launch this fall in the south, should pique the interest of farmers looking to boost their bottom line in between main food crops. For this episode of Cover Crop Strategies, brought to you by Verdesian Life Sciences, we’ll get the scoop from Nuseed North American marketing lead Roger Rotariu and Nuseed Carinata communications director Colleen Shaw.

We’re headed to the great state of Ohio this week to catch up with Dusty Sonnenberg, owner and operator of Sonnenberg Farms and Jay Calf Ranch in Henry County. Not only is Dusty a huge Buckeyes fan, but the Ohio State grad is also a big fan of cover crops. On this episode of Cover Crop Strategies, brought to you by Verdesian Life Sciences, Dusty shares how cereal rye, canola, rapeseed and oats are paying off big time in his operation, especially when it comes to dealing with dry spells in Northwest Ohio. When Dusty’s not farming, you'll probably find him talking with farmers as a broadcaster and writer for Ohio Ag Net. We’ll get his thoughts and observations on the latest cover cropping trends.

On this episode of Cover Crop Strategies, brought to you by La Crosse Seed, we go inside the aerial application business with Damon Reabe, owner of Dairlyand Aviation and Reabe Spraying Service in Waupun, Wis. The third-generation pilot identifies key factors that can greatly increase the odds of a uniform stand and what species are best suited for aerial application. Reabe also shares important advice regarding location, seeding rate, timing and explains why frost seeding is a great option.

For this edition of Cover Crop Strategies, brought to you by La Crosse Seed, managing editor Julia Gerlach sits down with Jim Stute, an independent research agronomist who’s been studying cover crops since the 1980’s. Stute shares the latest analysis on Glyphosate resistant weeds (specifically water hemp, ragweed and marestail), including an on-farm trial that resulted in a 98% reduction in weed numbers. Stute also discusses the key findings from his graduate study on yield response to different cover crop species.

Christie Apple, AKA CropScout Christie, joins us this week. The agronomy and soil health specialist is a farmer at heart. She’s also a self-proclaimed ‘soil nerd’, who works with growers to improve their soil health and plant nutrition. When she’s not working with clients, Apple works on her own farm with her husband and 5 teenagers in central Michigan. On this edition of Cover Crop Strategies, brought to you by La Crosse Seed, Apple details how cover crops have impacted soil health on her farm. She also shares success stories from various clients. Looking to plant covers this summer? Apple gives us a few options.

We're paying a visit to southwest Kansas no-tiller Nick Vos this week. Vos started using cover crops shortly after moving to the U.S. from South Africa in 2006. For this episode of Cover Crop Strategies, brought to you by La Crosse Seed, Vos explains how cover crops play a critical role in his operation, especially when it comes to overcoming moisture challenges in the Dust Bowl. He also reflects on challenges faced and lessons learned over the last decade, and names his MVC (Most Valuable Cover).

This week we’re headed to Eastern IA, for a conversation about all things cover crops with Ryan Gibbs of Gibbsfield Farms. Ryan, and his wife Kristy, specialize in no-till cover crop and conservation farming practices.

His family experimented with interseeding several years ago. Former civil engineer Michael Vittetoe explains how that got the creative juices flowing when it comes to using diverse mixes for grazing. He also shares one valuable tip to consider when terminating covers.

This week we’re paying a visit to Starkey Farms, a seventh-generation family farm just outside of Indianapolis. Co-owner Mike Starkey’s been no-tilling since 1989. He started using cover crop mixes on his corn and soybeans in 2005.

This week we’re paying a visit to west central Illinois, where we find fifth-generation farmer Andrew Reuschel hard at work, wrapping up another long day of planting. His family has been experimenting with cover crops since the 1970’s. A true cover crop enthusiast, Andrew has tried about 30 different species over the past several years.

In this week's edition of the Cover Crop Strategies podcast, brought to you by La Crosse Seed, we’re headed to Lake Geneva, Wis. to catch up with Adam Lasch, AKA the Mad Scientist. Lasch is a first-generation farmer who’s never afraid to try something new.

Dr. Erin Silva, associate professor of organic and sustainable cropping systems at the University of Wisconsin, joins us on this week's edition of the Cover Crop Strategies podcast, brought to you by La Crosse Seed.

On this episode of the Cover Crop Strategies podcast, brought to you by La Crosse Seed, we’re headed to Davenport, IA to catch up with Robb Ewoldt, who’s the president of the Iowa Soybean Association. Ewoldt fills us in how the prestigious role is allowing him to make an impact not just in Iowa, but all over the globe.

On this episode of the Cover Crop Strategies podcast, brought to you by La Crosse Seed, associate editor Noah Newman catches up with the event’s organizer, Dean Weichmann, who shares his biggest takeaways from the day.

For this episode of the Cover Crop Strategies podcast, brought to you by La Crosse Seed, contributing editor Martha Mintz talks with Wisconsin no-tiller Tom Burlingham about that discovery, and the overall impact cover crops are having on his farm. He tells us what’s working, and what key adjustments to make when something’s not.