Cover crops and soil health are the latest buzzwords in the farming community, but research and profitability have proven these two topics have a big impact on no-till farming, reducing input costs and improving water infiltration.

On July 18, the PA No-till Alliance will host a field day at Majestic Farms outside of Crown, Pa., focusing on the use of cover crops and improving soil health.

The field day will feature David Brandt, a no-till farmer from Columbus, Ohio, who utilizes a corn, bean and wheat rotation focusing heavily on integrating cover crops into the rotation to reduce nitrogen inputs and improve his no-till system.

I had the chance to hear his presentation at the Northwest Regional No-till conference several years ago and was impressed with his knowledge and approach to using cover crops, their economics and how they have improved his operation.

Jim Hoorman, an Ohio State extension educator from Mercer County Ohio, will talk about cover crops, no-till, manure management and water quality and the impact of each on the environment.

Hoorman’s area has the highest grossing livestock receipts in the state and deals with nutrient runoff and water quality impacts. He will discuss how the use of cover crops and no-till have reduced runoff and improved water quality in the Grand Lake St. Marys and Wabash River watersheds.

Joel Myers, Pa.’s retired NRCS state agronomist, will also be on hand to discuss no-till and have a soil pit demonstration.

Finally, Leroy Bupp, a founding member of the No-till Alliance, will also talk on soil structure.

The morning session will include talks from Bupp, Hoorman and Brandt with afternoon breakout sessions with each speaker.

This is an excellent opportunity to work with and ask questions one-on-one with some highly knowledgeable men in their field that you can’t get in a conference environment.

To sign up or find out more information about the field day, you can contact the PA No-till Alliance at 717-635-2320.

Andy Gaver is a conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Butler County.