Even if you’re not growing cover crops to feed your cash crops, this is great information because it gives us more insight into the mystery of how plants add nitrogen to our soils to help us. Thanks to the Soil Science Society of America for sharing this with us. A circle of life-and nitrogen-is playing out in farms across the United States. And researchers are trying to get the timing right. Some cover crops, such as hairy vetch or cereal rye, are not grown to be eaten. Instead, they capture nutrients, including nitrogen, from previous crops, the air, and the soil. When cover crops decompose, these nutrients are released. Cash crops, such as corn or soybean, planted afterward can use these
Source: Beef Magazine My blog last week, recalling a phone conversation I had with a rancher who was frustrated with his venture into the bred heifer market, generated some thoughtful discussion with several folks. Much of that discussion revolved around the value of EPDs. Folks who have been around for a while know full well that EPDs are not new. When I went to work for the North American Limousin Foundation almost 40 years ago as a college kid, EPDs were just coming on the scene and breed associations were strongly encouraging their breeders to report data and use the numbers in their breeding decisions. Now, with genomically-enhanced EPDs, the accuracy and value of has increased remarkab
