A rye grass green manure has done its job over winter. I lifted it with a ho-mi and left it on the surface to continue to break down before the bed is planted up next month.
On other beds I’ve cover killed the rye grass. Both methods work well.
Some bramble roots have been forked up and removed from another bed. Some still need to be removed another time.
This is as much soil disturbance as I’ll ever do. Minimum till rather than no dig. #GreenManure #CoverCrops #Mulch #Allotment #Gardening
So, this article is aimed at commercial growers, but if you happen to have a few plots of land to grow stuff, #CoverCrops and #CropRotation is the way to go!
Top 10 Expert Tips for Growing #OrganicSoybeans: Boost Yield & #Sustainability
Excerpt: "Cover Cropping for Soil Fertility
Cover crops like clover, rye, or hairy vetch are game-changers for organic soybean farmers. They fix nitrogen, suppress weeds, and improve soil structure. For example, red clover can add up to 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre, reducing the need for external inputs. Plant cover crops in the off-season and terminate them before soybean planting, either by mowing or rolling. Sample Cover Crop Plan: Year 1: Red clover (fall-planted); Year 2: Organic soybeans; Year 3: Winter wheat followed by a summer cover like buckwheat. This rotation boosts fertility and disrupts pest cycles.
Expert Insight: A 2023 study from Cornell University found that cover crops increased organic soybean yields by up to 15% compared to fields without them.
Tip 3 – Implement Effective Crop Rotation
Benefits of Rotation for Organic Soybeans
Crop rotation is a cornerstone of organic farming, reducing pest and disease pressure while enhancing soil health. Rotating soybeans with crops like corn, wheat, or alfalfa prevents the buildup of soybean-specific pathogens like SCN. It also improves soil structure and nutrient availability. For instance, corn residues add organic matter, while alfalfa fixes nitrogen, benefiting subsequent soybean crops.
Planning a Rotation Schedule
Design a 3-5 year rotation plan tailored to your farm’s needs. A sample rotation might include: Year 1: Corn; Year 2: Organic soybeans; Year 3: Winter wheat; Year 4: Cover crop (e.g., clover); Year 5: Back to soybeans. Avoid planting soybeans in the same field consecutively to minimize disease risk. Case Study: John Miller, an organic farmer in Iowa, increased his soybean yields by 10 bushels per acre after adopting a corn-soybean-wheat rotation, as reported by the Practical Farmers of Iowa."
Read more:
https://agricarehub.com/organic-soybeans/
#SolarPunkSunday #GrowingSoybeans
#HarvestingSoybeans #GrowYourOwn
#GrowYourOwnFood #Soybeans #SoybeanCrops
UK debut: a massive agricultural octocopter - Crop Angel's DJI Agras T100 (3.2m span, 100kg payload) flew at a Norfolk farm.
For now it spreads cover crop seed (CAA/CRD still block spraying).
Demo at LAMMA Jan 14-15.
Under £20k. #AgTech #CoverCrops
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25720563.crop-angels-huge-agricultural-drone-takes-flight-norfolk/
University of California: New online tool helps growers choose cover crops. “For the first time, farmers in California and throughout the West have a decision-support tool that recommends cover-crop species based on growers’ unique situations and goals.”
@naturalgardensdave It’s all looking really good. I have to limit the quantity of mustard in my green manure mixes as they are quickest to germinate and can take over some of the others.
When the mustard has been knocked back by the frosts I find the hollow stalks that remain are great wintering habitat for the ladybirds. I leave the stalks in the ground until I use them to mulch the potatoes in April. #GreenManures #CoverCrops #NoDig #Mulch
This Saturday in Nevada County:
Learn how to grow healthier soil at the free Cover Crops 101 workshop
Meet adoptable pups at Nifty Adoption Day in Grass Valley.
That's two free events and one community worth celebrating.
Learn more below!
#NevadaCounty #GrassValley #AdoptDontShop #CoverCrops #LocalEvents #Community #sammiesfriends #peacefulvalleyfarm #freeevents #ittybitty4life
As #NewHampshire summers grow drier, farmers evolve to cope
by Molly Rains, September 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM EDT
Excerpt: "Some more analog farming techniques are also crucial for drought resilience, Mathur said. A foundational element of soil health is related to how much organic material it contains, a measure boosted by additives like #compost, #manure, or #CoverCrops. In addition to adding nutrients to the soil, these materials also cling to water, helping keep soil damp and cool in times of limited rainfall, she said.
"Once organic materials are present in the soil, they can be retained for longer with methods like #NoTill farming or #ReducedTill farming, in which farmers refrain as much as possible from plowing their fields. Chewing up a field before planting a crop adds air to the soil, fueling the decomposition of the important organic matter within, Delisle said. While no-till and reduced-till farming isn’t a good fit for every crop, he added, many New Hampshire farmers have had success using the method with the common local crops of corn and pumpkins.
"Preserving the organic matter in New Hampshire’s soil is important not only in times of drought but also, Delisle said, in times of heavy rain and flooding, when farm equipment can compress fields. This compacts the soil and makes it less hospitable to plants.
" 'Soils with higher organic matter in them have the capacity to spring back once they’re pressed down, and that’s an important factor in the resiliency of that soil,' Delisle said."
Learn more:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/hampshire-summers-grow-drier-farmers-090040658.html
#SolarPunkSunday
#ClimateChangeAgriculture
#ClimateChange #Composting #ClimateChangeAdaptation #Resiliency
How Oregon foods are adapting to a changing climate
By Alejandro Figueroa (OPB) and Emily Hamilton (OPB)
June 26, 2025
Excerpt: "So while maybe in Eastern Oregon, where it’s likely going to get hotter and you’ll have more prolonged days of hot weather, you’ll be seeing wheat farmers, for instance, working to keep as much water in their soils as they possibly can by using cover crops.
"Those are crops that you don’t necessarily harvest. They just help the soil stay covered, and they also naturally add nutrients back into that soil.
"Or maybe you’ll see the use of more practical things like the use of #ShadeCloth or better #irrigation systems."
https://www.opb.org/article/2025/06/26/how-oregon-foods-adapting-climate-change/
#SolarPunkSunday #ClimateChangeAgriculture #ClimateChange #CoverCrops #ClimateChangeAdaptation #OregonPublicRadio #Oregon #FoodSecurity
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