Zumbro Rover Watershed Cover Crop Project

Zumbro Rover Watershed Cover Crop Project

Summary

Andy Hart of Elgin, MN is involved in the partnership of R., C. & A Hart farms. Andy and his family raise corn, soybeans, sweet corn and peas with more than 1,500 acres being used for a cover crop once the corn and peas are harvested. They obtained a 2001 SARE grant to help with the expansion of their cover crop practices and to demonstrate how a cover crop will reduce wind and water soil erosion.

With over 35,000 acres of peas and sweet corn planted in southeastern Minnesota, they wanted to share the importance of proper soil conservation and land stewardship. Most of these acres are left open to wind and water erosion for 7 to 10 months out of the year. They have found that the cover crop not only protects the soil, but that these fields also have better soil structure and organic matter.

The SARE grant was used as an incentive for the farmers in the Zumbro River Watershed to plant a cover crop on the sweet corn or pea fields after they have been harvested. The cover crop program allowed each farmer to receive $7.00 per acre up to 100 acres if they followed the program correctly. The farmers could plant either oats or barley on these fields until Sept.1, 2001 and then the winter rye was used as a cover crop for the following spring. The fields were evaluated in the spring and required to have a 30% residue in order to receive the payment.

This project gave the area farmers the encouragement to try planting a cover crop and all of them have continued with the farming practice even after the first year payment was made. Andy has shared the success of his project through field days and works closely with the Olmsted and Wabasha County NRCS offices to continue to share the importance of this cover cropping system.