On the No-Till Farmer website today, an announcement about the upcoming National No-Tillage Conference (Jan 9 – 12, 2013, at the Indianapolis Hyatt Regency) If you’re attending the Jan. 9 to 12 event at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Indianapolis, please note the following new sessions on the program.

At Wednesday evening’s general session at 8:15 p.m., Dan Towery of Ag Conservation Solutions and a consultant to the Oregon Ryegrass Commission will present, “The Payback Potential Of Cover Crops In Enhancing Soil Health.”

Here’s how Dan described the presentation he’ll lead, with experts Steve Groff, David Brown and Dave Brandt adding their experience to the mix:

The process of increasing organic matter, improving nutrient cycling and cranking-up the soil biology is complex and not well understood.  Yet some producers have been able to consistently grow high yielding corn which tolerated the drought much better and needed significantly less commercial nitrogen.   

Organic matter, or humus, is the soil reservoir for soil nitrogen, sulfur, and much of the phosphorus. Increasing organic matter enables you to increase nutrient efficiency.  In addition, managing soils in such a way as to increase diversity and benefit soil organisms is an important component.  

Improving soil health or soil resilience can potentially provide 5-7” of additional moisture in a dry year, almost eliminate runoff, and require significantly less commercial nitrogen.  However, it takes time and a plan to see these benefits. 

Stay tuned…we’ll report back on the presentation at the No-Till Conference, where fundamentals will be covered and then you can decide if you want to join the parade heading to no-till and cover crops.