Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The NCCC-211 team is an integral part of the Midwest Cover Crop Council (MCCC); as such our efforts are often one in the same. NCCC-211 has active representation from eight states and we continue to look to gain representation from the 4 remaining North Central states; at the time of this submission representatives from OH and MO have been identified. The MCCC has representation from 12 states and 2 Canadian provinces with agri-business, agency, farmer, and non-profit representation. NCCC-211 and MCCC are focused on developing tools and outreach materials to reduce cover crop adoption barriers and increase crop production resiliency.

Short-term outcomes: None to report at this time.

Outputs:

Cover Crop Recipes continue to be developed to provide a starting point for farmers who are new to growing cover crops. In total 30 state specific Recipes (4 new Recipes in 2021) have been developed reaching >8,400 total pageviews.

Cover Crop Field Guide 3rd edition was released with 3,785 copies distributed in 2021. The 2nd edition had 3,34 4 copies distributed in 2021 before the 3rd edition was released. Updates to the guide include recommendations for cover crop termination in unfavorably wet springs and planting green into cover crops. The cover crop species section of the guide has also been expanded to incorporate white clover, forage brassicas, balansa clover and several cover crops commonly used in a mix.

Social Media Intern was hired to help increase our social media presence. From 1 November 2021 to 1 March 2022, Facebook reach increased by 1400%, visits increased by 75%, and pages likes increased by 73%. For the same period, Twitter engagement was 1.9% up from 1.6% (average Twitter engagement is 1-2%).

CCA Training Modules, in partnership with SARE, 11 modules designed for crop advisors to learn more about cover crop adoption. The modules were presented in 6 webinars that had a total of 334 attendees at the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022. These modules are shared on the MCCC website for download and use. 

USDA-NIFA SAS CAP Precision Sustainable Agriculture Coordinated Agriculture Project continued with representatives from 6 states (IA, IN, KS, MI, NE, WI). This project has coordinated research protocols for on-farm experiments (3 per state) in IA, IN, KS, NE, and WI to investigate soil moisture and cover crop decomposition. Additionally, experiment station trials include cover crop plus optimal N rates and termination timing influence on pest/disease dynamics, and cover crop decomposition. A highlight of 2021 was the development of an undergraduate cover crop course that was offered in the fall of 2021 simultaneously at 7 institutions. Michigan State University and University of Nebraska - Lincoln representatives promoted MCCC/NCCC-211 materials to be included (i.e. all students received a Cover Crop Field Guide, management course module showcased the Selector Tool). This course had enrollment of more than 100 students with students interacting with students across the 7 institutions.

Activities:

Number of graduate students and postdocs involved in cover crop work: 67

Number of presentations: 205

Number of publications: 49

Milestones:

Through strategic planning the MCCC executive committee refined 3 key focus areas: education, network growth, and collective impact. Educational milestones have been achieved through the release of the 3rd edition of the Cover Crop Field Guide. A major network growth milestone was the hiring of a social media intern to help broaden the reach and distribution of outreach materials. Collective impact is being accomplished through the SAS CAP project and quarterly stakeholder listening sessions.

1. Acharya, J., T. Kaspar, and A.E. Robertson. 2021. Effect of 6-Methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone (MBOA) on Pythium species and corn seedling growth and disease. Plant Dis. doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-04-20-0824-SC
2. Anderson, J.V., M. Neubauer, D.P. Horvath, W.S. Chao, and M.T. Berti. 2022. Analysis of Camelina sativa transcriptomes identified specific transcription factors and processes associated with freezing tolerance in a winter biotype. Ind. Crops Prod. 177:114414 doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2021.114414
3. Andrea, C., G. Pourhashem, R.W. Gesch, A.W. Lenssen, Y.A. Mohammed, S. Patel, M.T. Berti. 2021. Environmental trade-offs of relay-cropping winter cover crops with soybean in the maize-soybean rotation. Agricultural Systems 189: 103062. doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103062
4. Baker J.M., K.A. Albrecht, G.E. Feyereisen, and J.D. Gamble. 2021. A perennial living mulch substantially increases infiltration in row crop systems. J. Soil Water Conserv. 77(1). doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2022.00080
5. Blanco‐Canqui, H., M.E. Drewnoski, and D.G. Rice. 2021. Does harvesting cover crops eliminate the benefits of cover crops? Insights after three years. Soil Sci. Soc. of Am. J. 85:146-157.
6. Berti, M.T., A. Cecchin, D.P. Samarappuli, S. Patel, A.W. Lenssen, K.J. Moore, S.S. Wells, and M.J. Kazula. 2021. Alfalfa established successfully in intercropping with corn in the US Midwest. Agronomy. 11:1676. doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081676
7. Brooker, A., K. Renner, R.F. Price, and B. Basso. 2021. Evaluating high-resolution optical and thermal reflectance of maize interseeded with cover crops across spatial scales using remotely sensed imagery. Agron. J. 113:2884-2899.
8. Candelaria, N., J. Grossman, M. Rogers, and A. Fernandez. 2021. Exploring multifunctionality of summer cover crops for organic vegetable farms in the upper Midwest. Renew. Ag. and Food Sys.  
9. Carver, R.E., N.O. Nelson, K.L. Roozeboom, G.J. Kluitenberg, P.J. Tomlinson, Q. Kang, D.S. Abel. 2022. Cover crop and phosphorus fertilizer management impacts on surface water quality from a no-till corn-soybean rotation. J. Environ. Mgmt. 301. doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113818.
10. Davis, C.J., D.R. Presley, C.L. Rivard, J.J. Griffin, and P.J. Tomlinson. 2022. Conservation systems influence on soil properties in pumpkin production. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 86:435–449. doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20365
11. Franco, J.G., M.T. Berti, J.H. Grabber, J.R. Hendrickson, C.C. Nieman, P. Pinto, D. van Tassel, and V.D. Picasso. 2021. Ecological intensification of food production by integrating forages. Agronomy. 11:2580. doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122580
12. Francis, H.R., T.F. Ma, and M.D. Ruark. 2021. Toward a standardized statistical methodology comparing optimum nitrogen rates among management practices: A bootstrapping approach. Ag. Environ. Letters. 6:e20045. doi:10.1002/ael2.20045.
13. Forcella F., S. Patel, A.W. Lenssen, C. Hoerning, M.S. Wells, R.W. Gesch, M.T. Berti. 2021. Weather and landscape influences on pollinator visitation of flowering winter oilseeds (field pennycress and winter camelina). Journal of Applied Entomology. 145:286–294 doi.org/10.1111/jen.12854.
14. Gesch, R.W, M.S. Wells, and A. Hard. 2021. Desiccation of corn allows earlier direct seeding of winter camelina in the Northern Corn Belt. Crop Sci. doi:10.1002/csc2.20549
15. Ginakes, P. and J. Grossman. 2021. Extending cover crop benefits with zone-till management in northern organic summer squash production. Agronomy.  
16. Gutknecht J., A. Journey, H. Blair, H. Peterson, and A. Cates. 2022. Reduced tillage and diverse cover crops for soil Management practices to promote soil health and climate adaptation: grappling with varied success and farmer versus researcher perspectives. J. Environ. Qual. 
17. Hodgskiss, C.L., B.G. Young, S.D. Armstrong, and W.G. Johnson. 2021. Evaluating cereal rye and crimson clover for weed suppression within buffer areas in dicamba-resistant soybean. Weed Tech. 1–29.
18. Howard, G., W. Zhang, A. Valcu-Lisman, and P.W. Gassman. 2021. Evaluating the efficiency-participation tradeoff in agricultural conservation programs: The effect of reverse auctions, spatial targeting, and higher offered payments. Working paper 21-WP 622. Center for Ag. Rural Devel., Iowa State University, Ames, IA.
19. Carmona, I.G., L.M. Delserone, J.N. Duarte Campos, T.F. Almeida, D.V.B. Ozório, J.D.B. Cardona, R. Wright, and A.J. McMechan. 2021. Does cover crop management affect arthropods in the subsequent corn and soybean crops in the United States? A systematic review. Annals Ent. Soc. Am. 114:151-162.
20. Kandel, H., D.P. Samarappuli, K. Johnson, and M.T. Berti. 2021. Soybean relative maturity, not row spacing affected interseeded cover crops biomass. Agriculture. 11:441 doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11050441
21. Koehler-Cole, K., C.A. Proctor, R.W. Elmore, and D.A. Wedin. 2021. Spring-planted cover crops for weed control in soybean. Renew. Ag. Food Sys. 1-8. doi.org/10.1017/S1742170521000107  
22. Kurtz, S., J. Acharya, T. Kaspar, and A.E. Robertson. 2021. Influence of spatial planting arrangement of winter rye cover crop on corn seedling disease and corn productivity. Plant Dis. 105:4014-4024 doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-04-21-0764-RE.
23. Kurtz, S., J. Acharya, T. Moorman, T. Kaspar, A. Lenssen, and A.E. Robertson. 2021. Seedling disease of corn caused by Pythium increases with proximity of rye. Plant Dis. doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-06-20-1389-SC
24. Liebman, M., A. Basche, T.X. Huong, D.A. Weisberger. 2021. How can cover crops contribute to weed management? A modelling approach illustrated with rye (Secale cereale) and Amaranthus tuberculatus. Weed Research. doi.org/10.1111/wre.12508
25. Lowry, C., G.P. Robertson, and D.C. Brainard. 2021. Strip-tillage decreases soil nitrogen availability and increases the potential for N losses in a cover cropped organic system. Ag. Eco. Environ. 319:107524.
26. Logsdon, S.D., C.A. Cambardella, and P.L. O'Brien. 2021. Multispecies cover crops in organic agricultural systems in the upper U.S. Midwest. Agrosyst. Geosci. Environ. 4:e20221. doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20221
27. Maher, R.M., A. Rangarajan, B.A. Caldwell, Z.D. Hayden, D.C. Brainard. 2021. Legume species not spatial arrangement influence cover crop mixture effects in strip-tilled organic cabbage. Agron. J. 113:2710-2731. 
28. Mohammed, Y.A., R.W. Gesch, H.L. Matthees, and S.S. Wells. 2022. Maturity selection but not sowing date enhances soybean productivity and land use in a winter camelina-soybean relay system. Food Energy Sec. 11: e346. doi.org/10.1002/fes3.346
29. Nevins, C., C.L. Lacey, and S.D. Armstrong. 2021. Cover crop enzyme activities and resultant soil ammonium concentrations under different tillage systems. Eur. J. Agron.
30. Nguyen, L.T. and A.N. Kravchenko. 2021. Effects of cover crops on soil CO2 and N2O emissions across topographically diverse agricultural landscapes in corn-soybean-wheat organic transition. Eur. J. Agron. 122:126189.
31. Obour, AK, L.M. Simon, J.D. Holman, P.M. Carr, M. Schipanski, S. Fonte, R. Ghimire, T. Nleya, and H. Blanco-Canqui. 2021. Cover crops to improve soil health in the North American Great Plains. Agron. J. 113:4590–4604. doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20855
32. O'Neill, B., C.D. Sprunger, and G.P. Robertson. 2021. Do soil health tests match farmer experience? Assessing biological, physical, and chemical indicators in the upper Midwestern United States. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 85:903-918.
33. Osterholtz, W.R., M.D. Ruark, M.J. Renz, and J.H Grabber. 2021. Interseeding alfalfa into corn silage increases corn N fertilizer demand and increases system yield. Agron. Sus. Devel. 41:58 doi:10.1007/s13593-021-00711-1
34. Osterholtz, W., M.D. Ruark, M. Renz, and J.H. Grabber. 2021. Benefits of alfalfa interseeding include reduced residual soil nitrate following corn production. Ag. Environ. Let.. 6:e20053. doi:10.1002/ael2.20053.
35. Patel, S., C.A. Bartel, A.W. Lenssen, K.J. Moore, and M.T. Berti. 2021. Stem density, productivity, and weed community dynamics in corn-alfalfa intercropping. Agronomy. 11:1696 doi:10.3390/agronomy11091696
36. Patel, S., A.W. Lenssen, K.J. Moore, Y.A. Mohammed, R.W. Gesch, M.S. Wells, B.L. Johnson, M.T. Berti, and H.L. Matthees. 2021. Interseeded pennycress and camelina yield and influence on row crops.  Agron. J. 113:2629-2647 doi:10.1002/agj2.20655.
37. Perkus, E., J. Grossman, A. Pfeiffer, M. Rogers, and C. Rosen. 2021. Exploring overwintered cover crops as a soil management tool in upper-Midwest high tunnels. Hort. Sci.  doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15987-21
38. Ruis, S.J., J.A. Guretzky, M. Howell-Smith, H. Blanco-Canqui, D. Redfearn, K. Koehler-Cole, R.W. Elmore, and K.L. Bash. 2021. Developing research and extension skills of undergraduate students while fostering interest in integrated agronomic systems. N. Am. Col. Teach. Ag. J. 65.
39. Sadeghpour, A., O. Adeymi, D. Hunter, Y. Lua, and S.D. Armstrong. 2021. Precision planting impacts on winter cereal rye growth, nutrient uptake, spring soil temperature and adoption cost. Renew. Ag. Food Sys. doi.org/10.1017/S1742170520000411
40. Samuelson, M.B., E.V. Reid, R. Drijber, E. Jeske, H. Blanco-Canqui, M. Mamo, I. Kadoma, and S.E. Wortman. 2021. Effects of compost, cover crops, and local conditions on degradation of two agricultural mulches in soil. Ren. Ag. Food Sys. 1-14.
41. Sawadgo, W. and A. Plastina. 2021. Do Cost-Share Programs Increase Cover Crop Use? Empirical Evidence from Iowa.  Renew. Ag. Food Sys. 1-9. doi:10.1017/S1742170521000132.
42. Sawadgo, W., W. Zhang, and A. Plastina. 2021. What drives landowners’ conservation decisions? Evidence from Iowa. J. Soil Water Conser. 76:211-221. doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2021.00115.
43. Schlautman, B., C. Bartel, L. Diaz-Garcia, S. Fei, S. Flynn, E. Haramoto, K. Moore, and D. Raman. 2021. Perennial groundcovers: an emerging technology for soil conservation and the sustainable intensification of agriculture. Emerg. Topics Life Sci. 5:337-347. doi:10.1042/ETLS20200318.
44. Schramski, J.A., C.L. Sprague, and K.A. Renner. 2021. Effects of fall-planted cereal cover-crop termination time on glyphosate-resistant horseweed (Conyza canadensis) suppression. Weed Tech. 35:223-233.
45. Schramski, J.A., C.L. Sprague, and K.A. Renner. Integrating fall-planted cereal cover crops and preplant herbicides for glyphosate-resistant horseweed (Conyza canadensis) management in soybean. Weed Tech. 35:234-241.
46. Simon, L.M., A.K. Obour, J.D. Holman, S.K. Johnson, and K.L. Roozeboom. 2021. Forage productivity and soil properties in dual-purpose cover crop systems. Agron. J. 113:5569–5583. doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20877
47. Wauters, V., J. Grossman, A. Pfeiffer, and R. Cala. 2021. Ecosystem services and cash crop tradeoffs of summer cover crops in Northern region organic vegetable rotations. Frontiers Sus. Food Sys.  
48. Wayment, J. 2021. Cover crops and living mulches and their role in minimizing unintended nitrogen consequences on the environment. University of Minnesota Libraries. M.S. Thesis.
49. Weyers, S.L., R.W. Gesch, F. Forcella, C.A. Eberle, M.D. Thom, H.L. Matthees, M. Ott, G.W. Feyereisen, and J.S. Strock. 2021. Surface Runoff and Nutrient Dynamics in Cover Crop-Soybean Systems in the Upper Midwest. J. of Environ. Qual. 50:158-171. doi:10.1002/jeq2.20135