First Time Cover Croppers
Bryant and Margaret Harrison of Greenville County, SC first used cover crops hoping to control erosion... but they couldn't ignore the other benefits that came with it.
Bryant and Margaret Harrison of Greenville County, SC first used cover crops hoping to control erosion... but they couldn't ignore the other benefits that came with it.
For those still farming conventionally, this bold approach would appear to be destined for failure. But two of our farmers, Bryant and Margaret Harrison of Greenville County, are experiencing just what we had in mind.
Cover crops not only help build up organic matter in the soil, they also help with reducing weeds and increasing water infiltration!
This initiative, which began last year, aims to enhance soil quality that has been left idle for some time. Bryant plans to experiment with different planting techniques, including using a coulter packer and a conventional grain drill.
It's often thought that to add cover crops to an operation, a farmer needs fancy new equipment. In this video, Bryant Harrison shows us that that doesn't have to be the case!
Brian discusses the benefits of using cover crops in agriculture. He appreciates how cover crops maintain more consistent soil moisture levels, reducing the need to frequently combat weather elements and moisture evaporation from the soil.
"I've seen a lot more cover crops in the area than I've ever seen." Cover crops are a tool many farmers are turning to for it's laundry list of benefits.
Restoring the land with cover crops one farm at a time!
we asked each farmer involved to show us their worst performing plot of land. What better way to display the power of soil health than through taking land no one wants and transforming it into land that consistently out-produces the rest?
Don discusses using cover crops for grazing, adjusting strategies to support soil health and forage, emphasizing a shift towards organic practices and native plantings for sustainable land use.
Nat Bradford is an heirloom vegetable farmer in Sumter County. Recently, Nat has transitioned to a more organic style of agriculture and talks with us about the effects thus far and his vision for the future.
Utilizing cover crops and diversity isn't just great for building soil health, it also serves to create a more resilient soil that can stand up against extreme weather conditions.
Hear what Ruper Burrows, producer out of Williamsburg County, South Carolina found and how his cover crops are not only growing, but improving soil health along the way!
Hear S.C. farmer Rupert Burrows talk about his experience with cover crops and how he's seen them increase soil infiltration moisture and stabilize soil temperature.
‘[Outside of the plot] you can see quite a few weeds, but inside [with the cover crops] if we were to peel it back, you would see that we don’t have any weed pressure.’ Cover crops: Nature’s way of suppressing weeds and building healthy soils.
'When I inherited the land it was very nutrient depleted and didn't have much biodiversity... cover crops, keeping continuous roots in the soil and [keeping the ground covered] has greatly amended and increased the organic matter in my soil.'
Some of our farmers in South Carolina have voiced frustration over an increase in wildlife pressure after incorporating cover crops. We sat down with Will Metts of Metts Organix to hear first hand about this experience and what to expect.
‘Most problems you’re gonna incur with cover crops are spurred by your own actions.’ Hear how Will Metts of Metts Organix avoids them and works with the patterns of nature to grow healthy, sustainable crops!
Using cover crops has a bevy of benefits. Among other things, covers help increase infiltration, reduce erosion, improve soil resilience and structure and promote organic matter. But what do first time cover croppers need to know to reap the mo
The questions for farmers around the country is getting louder than ever: Conventional or Regenerative? Hear Will Metts of Metts Organix take on why he chose regenerative for the health of the land, himself and his family.
Two years ago, farmer John Brabham signed up for our 'Cover 5' series, a project where we take five acres of under-performing land and start introducing cover crops. See where he is now!
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