New edition of cover crop field guide released

Dean Baas<baasdean@msu.edu> and Monica Jean<atkinmon@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

The Midwest Cover Crops Field Guide has been revised to include updated and new information on cover crops and their use.

Cover of the Midwest Cover Crops Field Guide.

Michigan farmers continue to discover the benefits of cover crops for soil health, erosion control and nutrient retention. From planting to termination, growers face many production decisions, however.

The Midwest Cover Crops Council, made up of representatives from 12 Midwest states, the province of Ontario, other agricultural stakeholders, universities and Extension including Michigan State University Extension, is releasing a new edition of the Cover Crops Field Guide. The popular pocket-size in-field reference helps growers effectively select, grow and use cover crops. Topics include cover crop selection, cropping system recommendations and effects of cover crops.

Updates to the guide include recommendations for cover crop termination in unfavorably wet springs and planting green into cover crops. The cover crop species section of the guide has also been expanded to include white clover, forage brassicas, balansa clover and several cover crops that are commonly used in a mix.

The third edition field guide will be available for purchase in early December. The guide will cost $6 and a 10% quantity discount is available on boxes of 25. Purchases can be made through Purdue University’s Education Store.

The Midwest Cover Crops Council will hold a live, one-hour webinar on Dec. 8 at 12:30 p.m. ET to outline the updates and answer questions. Go to the Midwest Cover Crops Council website to register for the webinar or view a recorded version later. Attendees who pre-register will be eligible to receive a free copy of the new field guide after the webinar; limited quantities are available.

Cover crop information and resources are available at the websites for MSU Extension Cover Crops and the Midwest Cover Crops Council. For more information about the Midwest Cover Crops Council, contact Monica Jean. For more information on cover crops, contact members of the MSU Extension Cover Crops Team.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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