“You won’t find the one simple recipe to meet your farming goals. You will find the tools to select and manage the best cover crops for the unique needs of your farm.“
Our August Regen Reads Recommendation is “Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition” from SARE Outreach.
In regenerative organic agriculture, there is not always a clear answer for what a producer must do to solve their problems. Some growers need more nitrogen cycling in their soils, others need greater water infiltration rates — the list of issues that need resolutions is endless. A producer can implement the principles of regenerative agriculture to start fixing these issues, but where to begin?
Many producers have heard about cover crops and may already be utilizing them in their fields. They are a tool that yields great results when implemented to rebuild soil health. Cover crops serve as a solution to a multitude of problems, including but not limited to soil erosion, nutrient cycling, microbial symbiosis, weed suppression, and pest management. But they must be utilized in an appropriate, intentional manner to effectively apply to your context. Without context, every decision you make on the farm is essentially a shot in the dark.
In the book “Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition”, the collaborative efforts of soil experts from SARE Outreach are summarized into one fantastic guide to cover crops. In-depth chapters that focus on each benefit will enlighten you about the scientific mechanisms through which cover crops facilitate positive change in your soil. The latter half of the book is dedicated to detailed descriptions of cover crop species and blends, with a focus on how each species can help amend your soil in your specific context.
As an added bonus to this amazing guide to cover crops, the Midwest Cover Crops Council has developed Cover Crop Decision Tools to help you assess which species would apply optimally to your operation. With a few bits of information, each tool will help you identify which cover crop species or blend can help resolve your farm’s needs.
You can access “Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition” here, and make sure to check out the Cover Crop Decision Tools here!
Regen Reads is COG’s monthly regenerative agriculture reading list. 📖