Cover Crop Water Quality Benefits Guide
Guide explaining how cover crops can help protect water quality, with steps for choosing and managing a cover to reduce nutrient and sediment loss. Work through the steps in order and keep notes on what you find along the way.
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GuideSoil, Water & ConservationFree PDF
The steps on this page
- Identify water quality concerns on the farm
- Note where runoff leaves the field
- Select a cover crop suited to the goal
- Plan seeding date and method
- Manage nutrients alongside the cover
- Plan termination details
- Watch fields during heavy rain
- Record cover growth and results
How to use this guide
Follow the steps in order and write down any changes you make. Where your equipment or product has instructions, those come first.
Where to check the details
This sheet is a general template, so confirm specifics with your own manuals, labels and local rules. For current official guidance, start with USDA NRCS and eXtension.
For more in this area, see the Crop Calendar. Between chores, farm.FM has farm humor, including Crop Circles & Cowboy Hats, and farming farm stories.