Climate Smart Agriculture in Minnesota: From Cover Crops to Carbon

Jodi DeJong-Hughes, Regional Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension and Ryan Buetow, Minnesota State Agronomist, NRCS discuss the benefits of using climate smart agricultural practices. Jodi describes the research being conducted by the U of MN to examine the long-term effects on soil health from applying rye cover crops to farm fields. She discusses how the timing of cover crop termination can affect crop yields and profits. She also talks about the benefits of using climate smart agricultural practices, such as no-till and cover crops and how they may reduce carbon dioxide emissions and increase carbon sequestration while maintaining crop yields and profitability. Videography by Dan Balluff.
University of Minnesota Extension: extension.umn.edu
For more information about climate smart agricultural practices please video the Minnesota NRCS website at: www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservatio...
And for more videos about other NRCS conservation-related projects please visit the Minnesota NRCS TH-cam channel at: / @minnesotanrcs
www.nrcs.usda.gov/
/ nrcs_mn
Time stamps:
00:00:00 Introduction: Ryan Buetow, Minnesota State Agronomist, NRCS
00:01:06 Jodi-DeJong-Hughes, Regional Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension
00:01:12 Research on planting green rye cover crops with various tillage methods
00:02:14 Research plots and rye cover crop termination
00:03:10 Using a drone to seed the rye cover crop
00:03:38 Terminating rye with glyphosate
00:03:50 Hi Boy Hagie and drone seeder
00:05:00 Planting Soybeans
00:05:15 Crop yields
00:05:30 Timing of rye over crop termination
00:06:21 Benefits of cover crops, reducing erosion, increase trafficability and soil health
00:06:56 Herbicide resistance, disease resistance, root rot and reducing herbicide use
00:07:33 Challenges with cover crops, fuel usage, drill seeding, and broadcast seeding
00:08:52 Application rates fore cover crops
00:09:52 Harvesting soybeans and crop yields and profits
00:10:17 NRCS programs for soil health practices
00:10:26 Cover crops benefits, sequestering carbon from atmosphere, biomass needed
00:12:53 Soil organic matter
00:13:20 Tillage releasing carbon dioxide from soil and fuel costs
00:14:37 Extreme weather events, soil health practices, and reducing erosion
00:16:20 Benefits of a cover crop mat
00:17:50 Benefits of cover crops in raising cattle
00:18:41 Ryan Buetow
#climatesmartagriculture
#universityofminnesota
#carbonsequestration

[@denissesheartyhomestead]

thank you for sharing this. currently attempting to develop a build soil strategy for my climate and planting green might just be one of the options i attempt on one of the sections of my property. first time i hear the term can't wait to do more research.

[@minnesotanrcs]

Thanks for your comment. Good luck in your efforts.

[@scottschaeffer8920]

Nothing wrong with relinquishing a little yield in exchange for less tillage, less herbicides, chemicals, building biology in the soil, and so on. It’s about our future, and your children’s future.

[@minnesotanrcs]

Thanks for your comment.

[@EugeneYus]

Next step: regulating drainage tile and where that water goes. Farmers of the past and current love to say how they feed the world yet they don’t ever bring up that they are killing us too. Where can I sign up to help educate farmers?

[@nathanwesolowski7912]

Drain tile is regulated. local and state permits are required. More than that, tile improves water quality. Think of soil as a sponge, if its saturated and you pour water on it, it runs off just like saturated soil, it runs off carrying soil and nutrients. Now pour water on a sponge thats been squeezed out, it holds the water just like tiled soil isn't saturated so the water soaks in. Soil is a filter grabbing nutrients and organisms. We have taken samples of water out tile lines many times and had it tested and more often than not its better quality than bottled water. How do you think farmers are killing you? We live where we work, raising our children and families. Do you really think we're poisoning where we live and the food we raise? We care more about the land than anyone. Without it we have nothing, no income, no life. My children are the sixth generation on the same land. It is our most important resource.

[@EugeneYus]

@@nathanwesolowski7912 it is not regulated. I’ve tiled for 10 years

[@EugeneYus]

@@nathanwesolowski7912 I’ve tiled for 10 years and thanks for giving me the run down on what Introduction to Soils is. Drainage tile is good for monocropping not good for the environment long term. Your water may be clean but your neighbors may not. The water is still going to the sub mains and county lines. That’s why it needs to be more regulated. NH3, the prized possession since the 1940s leeches very easily into drainage tile. Why can’t I use my well anymore for my garden plots and animals? Farm run off from yes tile and ditches. I just wish the gate keeping monocropping farmers would realize they are contributing to our long term demise. Sure you feed the world but at what cost? Southeastern MN contaminated waters should be monocropping farmers red flag that maybe they are part of the problem
It’s not regulated to the extent in which is needed. Our lake in our nearest town cannot be swam in, in the peak summer months due to no other thing than drainage tile flowing into creeks then into the lake
It doesn’t have to be this way. We can utilize technology we have and old methods of the past to produce enough food to prosper, without harming the environment and us.

[@EugeneYus]

@@nathanwesolowski7912 also, why can’t I use my 60foot well anymore and why is southeastern Minnesota’s drinking water from wells completely contaminated? Runoff from farms. Please realize you feed the world and kill it too. This is just the realization I wish the gate keeping farmers would understand