Interseeding Cover Crops Into Corn

by Anne Queenan
for the Lower Minnesota River Watershed

Civic Engagement Project

Produced highly viewed video for Sibley County SWCD website - an outreach tool for technical assistants at community events, county fairs and field offices to engage farmers in cover crop programs.

This was part of my cultural analysis for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's “Lower Minnesota River Watershed Approach - Civic Engagement Project Summary” exploring values and beliefs about Best Management Practices in the watershed.

In the Lower Minnesota River Watershed, elevated levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and total suspended solids are making their way through the tributaries and into the Minnesota River, a major source of pollution in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. To address this, this young farmer, Keith Hartmann is innovating ways to plant cover crops right into the corn to help keep the soil in place and the nutrients with the plants, instead of going into the waterways. His research, practice and the seeds for the cover crop are being supported by various innovation grants, but the practice is proving to be sustainable—a solid way to reduce tillage in the fall and improve soil health while maintaining or improving his corn yield.