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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sunflower and Plant Biology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #372017
Research Project: Novel Weed Management Solutions: Understanding Weed-Crop Interactions in Northern Climates

Location: Sunflower and Plant Biology Research

Title: Midwest Cover Crops Council - North Dakota annual report

Author
item BERTI, MARISOL - North Dakota State University
item SAMARAPPULI, DULAN - North Dakota State University
item PETERSON, ALAN - North Dakota State University
item CABELLO, SERGIO - North Dakota State University
item ANDERSEN, BRYCE - North Dakota State University
item WITTENBERG, ALEX - North Dakota State University
item MOZEA, KENNETH - North Dakota State University
item RANSOM, JOEL - North Dakota State University
item SCHMITT, MATTIE - North Dakota State University
item KANDEL, HANS - North Dakota State University
item JOHNSON, KORY - North Dakota State University
item GRAMIG, GRETA - North Dakota State University
item PUKA-BEALS, JESSE - North Dakota State University
item BEAMER, KEN PAUL - North Dakota State University
item WICK, ABBEY - North Dakota State University
item FRANZEN, DAVID - North Dakota State University
item GASCH, CALEY - North Dakota State University
item DESUTTER, TOM - North Dakota State University
item GOOS, R. JAY - North Dakota State University
item WIRTZ, JEREMY - North Dakota State University
item DAIGH, AARON - North Dakota State University
item YAN, GUIPING - North Dakota State University
item ACHARYA, KRISHNA - North Dakota State University
item OSTLIE, MIKE - North Dakota State University
item ENDRES, GREG - North Dakota State University
item HARMON, JASON - North Dakota State University
item Anderson, James

Submitted to: Extension Reports
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2020
Publication Date: 3/1/2020
Citation: Berti, M.T., Samarappuli, D., Peterson, A., Cabello, S., Andersen, B., Wittenberg, A., Ransom, J., Schmitt, M., Kandel, H., Johnson, K., Gramig, G., Puka-Beals, J., Wick, A., Franzen, D., Gasch, C., Desutter, T., Goos, R., Wirtz, J., Cihacek, L., Daigh, A., Ressler, L., Yan, G., Acharya, K., Ostlie, M., Endres, G., Aberle, E., Eriksmoen, E., Augustin, C., Jacobs, J., Buetow, R., Nowatzki, J., Hormon, J., Anderson, J.V. 2020. Midwest Cover Crops Council, North Dakota annual report. Extension Reports. 1-53.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Adoption of cover crops in North Dakota was been increasing exponentially, as evidenced by the 89% increase in acres from 213,810 to 404,267 between 2012-2017. Thanks to the many researchers and graduate students involved in cover crops research and extension in the state, $1,233,016 in new funding for cover crops research was granted in 2019, in addition to the NIFA CropSys CAP project for 3.7 million, which is in its fourth year of execution. Soil erosion by wind is one of the most serious problems in North Dakota, especially in winter with little snow cover or dry springs. However, cover crops are helping to improve soil health, reduce erosion, and increase sustainability of cropping systems. In the long-term, cover crops will help reduce the need for N fertilization, improve water quality, and provide forage for grazing. Research on cover crop interseeding and intercropping has also increased in the last few years, with many farmers now interseeding cover crops in standing corn, soybean, sugarbeet, and sunflower using an interseeder drill or a broadcast system. However, the acres interseeded with cover crops were less in 2019 than in 2018, mostly due to the cooler and wetter environment of 2019. Regardless, as of 2019, cover crops are believed to easily surpass 500,000 acres in North Dakota. Survey respondents (n=120) who participated in one or more of our extension activities in North Dakota indicated their primary concern is nutrient management followed by water management and wind erosion. The respondents to this survey, representing an area of 230,000 acres, indicated increased interest in establishing cover crops in standing corn and soybean (44%) and using cover crops for weed control (48%). In addition, 38% of participants indicated they are considering using cover crops to manage problematic areas associated with salinity, headlands, low spots.