Continuous Living Cover Crops (CLCs)
Great River Greening has assisted farmers through fields days and technical guidance in planting 5,000 cover crop acres in Southern Minnesota.
Beneficial Cover Crops
Cover crops are crops that a farmer plants in the fall and grows during the “off-season” of main crops like corn and soybeans. However, most cover crops don’t have a market. They just cover the ground to improve soil health, weed suppression, and water quality.
New cover crops like winter camelina can be harvested in the spring and sold for profit. That means the farmer can grow and harvest two crops in a single year. Now the cover crop reaps the same benefits while also increasing revenue.
Cover crop expert Dan Coffman explaining how to combine livestock and cover crops
Teaching and Learning
In eastern Nicollet County, we connect with farmers who are the first to grow Kernza® and winter camelina in that county. Great River Greening’s field days, dinners, and discussions give farmers the chance to ask questions, figure out where to sell the grain, learn about adjustments they would need to make to equipment, all while strengthening the community.
Ben Penner is a farmer who took part in a winter camelina pilot in Nicollet County. Now, he shares his experiences in hope that CLCs can provide opportunities for farmers, community, and the environment. Watch this video from our Sustainable Agriculture Series to learn more.
Are you a farmer looking for more information? Click the button below to fill out the questionnaire for a free on-farm consultation from a Great River Greening agriculture specialist.