SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report

Sections

Status: Approved

Basic Information

Participants

Marisol Berti (ND), Carols Pires (ND), Anna Cates (MN), Giovani Preza Fontes (UIL), Todd Lorenz (MO), Shalamar Armstrong (IN), Eileen Kladivko (IN), Mark Licht (IA), Osler Ortez (OSU), Andrea Basche (NE), Kendall Lamke (IA), Tala Awada (NE)

Annual-meeting-NCCC-211-Minutes-02-10-2026.docx

Accomplishments

Summary of accomplishments

Increased cover crop adoption is driving increased demand for training and services through academic and strong multi-agency Conservation Partnerships.
The team maintains a robust research and Extension network, contributing to regional collaboration through the Midwest Cover Crop Council and advancing adoption via education and publications. Research across the region is refining cover crop management (e.g., seeding rates, termination timing) and developing tools to estimate nitrogen uptake, with a strong focus on water quality and nutrient cycling. In addition, research across the region is evaluating management tradeoffs, and advancing innovations like perennial groundcover systems to improve resilience and sustainability continues.
There is a significant workforce supporting cover crop research and outreach across major cropping systems.
The 20th anniversary of the Midwest Cover Crops Council was celebrated.

Short-term outcomes

 

Awareness and understanding of cover crops and their potential agroecological benefits was fulfilled through more than 100 presentations and 70 extension publications  and cover crop adoption increased across the Midwest. For example, Indiana reported 1.6 million acres and North Dakota reported 800,000 acres of cover crops in 2025.

 

Outputs

Updated Cover Crop Decision Tool for Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota.

Seventeen videos (webinars and Chronicles) and two podcasts available on the MidwestCoverCrops YouTube channel with approximately 1200 views.

Thirty-four students from several states completed the Cover Crop Essentials online class

Thirty-six graduate and undergraduate students (online and resident sections) completed a cover crop class at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2025.

More than 100 undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students were or are being educated and/or taking part in core cover crop research and training.

 

 

Activities

The Cover Crop Decision Tool was updated for Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota. An inter-seeding goal was added and frost date data were refined.

A Cover Crop Essentials online class was hosted by the Midwest Cover Crops Council and taught by several NCCC-211 participants https://www.midwestcovercrops.org/covercrop_essentials_course/.

Cover crop variety trials were done in IN, ND and NE.

All states conducted research trials to determine best management practices for cover crops, and assess the impact of cover crops on erosion, water quality and other ecosystem services.

The 20th MCCC Annual Meeting,  planned by extension specialists and researchers from Iowa State University and University of Wisconsin was hosted in Dubuque, IA. The annual meeting had ~90 participants and the conference had ~155 participants.

Videos and Podcasts were developed for the Midwest Cover Crops YouTube channel.

Cover crop management was included in  learning “competitions” via the Testing of Agricultural Systems (TAPS) project in Nebraska.

Nebraska extension contributed to the Soil Health Nexus curriculum and cover crop selection resources.

A cover crop specific course was taught at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

 

Milestones

Train-the trainer events were held in Missouri, Minnesota, Indiana and Nebraska

14 Recorded webinars were posted to the MCCC YouTube channel.

3 Factsheets were developed.

Impacts

  1. Coordinated research, extension, and on-farm collaboration across multiple states is accelerating the adoption and effectiveness of cover cropping systems, delivering measurable improvements in soil health, water quality, and farm resilience.
  2. Activities • Enrolled 61 Minnesota farmers in high tunnel cover crop trials, with 52 farmers establishing legume cover crop plots using provided seed, protocols, and individualized technical assistance. Biomass samples were collected and analyzed to estimate nitrogen (N) credits. • Developed and applied a satellite-based algorithm (trained on 500+ ground observations) to estimate cover crop acreage across 67 Minnesota counties (2017–2024), with outputs summarized at watershed (HUC8, HUC12) and county scales. • Conducted participatory, multi-state research through the Great Lakes Cover Crop Project, engaging 133 fields and coordinating biomass sampling and validation with 12 educators and agricultural professionals. • Advanced agronomic research on cover crop management (e.g., planting green, termination timing, species selection) across MN, OH, NE, and other states, supported by extensive Extension programming (field days, workshops, and on-farm trials). • Launched innovative tools and programs, for example in Nebraska, the Snap2Graze tool for estimating stocking rates from cover crop biomass, and integrating of cover crop systems into the TAPS competition framework were launched. • Measured environmental outcomes including nitrate leaching, N₂O emissions, and soil biological activity under diverse cover crop systems. • Investigated perennial groundcover (PGC) systems to reduce annual establishment costs and improve long-term system sustainability.
  3. Key Outcomes & Impacts • Improved farmer decision-making: Participating farmers received field-specific N credit estimates and management guidance, increasing confidence in integrating cover crops into high tunnel and row crop systems. • Expanded cover crop adoption: Cover crop acreage continues to increase across the region, supported by coordinated research-extension networks and strong stakeholder engagement (e.g., Extension presence in all 88 Ohio counties). • Validated monitoring tools: Remote sensing and photo-based biomass estimation methods are improving the scalability and accuracy of cover crop monitoring and evaluation. • Enhanced soil and water quality: o Up to 90% reduction in nitrate leaching in certain systems. o 63% reduction in N loss to drainage with no-till rye cover crops. o Increased soil biological activity, particularly in spring. • Actionable agronomic insights: o Rye cover crops reduced dry bean white mold incidence and severity. o Delayed rye termination (“planting green”) poses yield risks in moisture-limited regions. o Management practices (e.g., seeding rates, fertilization) influence cover crop biomass quality more than quantity. • Innovation in system design: Perennial groundcover systems show promise for year-round soil protection, reduced erosion, improved nutrient cycling, and enhanced resilience, while reducing long-term input and establishment costs.
  4. Indicators of Impact • Number of participating farmers and fields (e.g., 61 MN farmers; 133 regional fields). • Acres of cover crops detected via satellite across 67 counties. • Number of Extension events, participants, and partner organizations. • Biomass samples collected and analyzed; validation datasets generated. • Measured reductions in nitrate leaching (up to 90%) and drainage N loss (63%). • Documented changes in soil biological activity and greenhouse gas emissions. • Adoption rates of cover crops and related tools (e.g., Snap2Graze). • Research outputs and management recommendations disseminated to stakeholders.
  5. Long-Term Impact This integrated effort is building the scientific foundation and practical knowledge needed to optimize cover crop performance across diverse environments. By identifying biomass thresholds for ecosystem services and advancing perennial groundcover systems, the team is driving progress toward resilient, profitable cropping systems that protect soil and water resources at scale.

Grants, Contracts & Other Resources Obtained

The following grants, contracts and other resourses were reported by participants in NCCC211.

Title

Recipients

Funding source

Amount

Dates

Optimizing planting methods for cover crops before corn: comparison of precision planting and strip tillage to achieve nutrient loss reduction and maintain yield

A. Robertson and P. O’Brien

Iowa Nutrient Research Center

$99,010

8/2025 - 7/2027

Effect of winter cereal rye cultivar selection and herbicide choice on seedling disease, pathogen populations, nitrogen dynamics, and growth and yield of corn

A. Robertson, M. McDaniel, S. Arias, R. Matthiesen, M Anderson

Iowa Nutrient Research Center

$229,224

8/2023 - 7/2026

Optimizing cover crop termination to manage waterhemp and minimize shade avoidance in soybean

W. Everman, M. Licht

Iowa Soybean Research Center

$147,583

10/20225 - 9/2028

Effect of suppression and termination timing on evapotranspiration and soils moisture from candidate perennial and annual groundcovers

P. Rockson, D. Andersen, R. Raman, M. Helmers

Iowa Water Center

$27,738

1/2026 - 11/2027

Value of Diversified Management to Reduce Yield Losses from Insect Pests

E. Hodgson and A. Gassmann

Iowa Soybean Association

$266,255

10/2025 - 9/2028

Increasing Water Productivity, Soil Carbon and Sustainability of Integrated Multi-Crop Systems Using Field Scale Research (cover crop is one of the main factors in the study).

PI: Ruiz-Diaz, D.

Co-PIs: Ortez, O. et al. 

Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR).

$7,657,633

1/2023 – 12/2027

Closing the Cover Crop Yield Gap: Identifying Environmental and Management Factors to Maximize Cash Crop Yield and Ecosystem Services.

PI: Khanal, S.

Co-PIs: Ortez, O. et al. 

USDA - AFRI.

$749,939

1/2023 – 1/2027

Beauveria bassiana (Bb) effect in cover crop establishment in corn-soybean systems.

PI: Ortez, O.

Co-PIs: LaBarge, G. et al. 

USDA-NRCS

Ohio, CIG.

$149,472

8/2022 – 8/2026

System-based management to improve corn and soybean yields following cover crops

PI: Preza Fontes, G.

Co-PIs: Jones, J. et al

Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council

$506,365

10/2025 to 12/2028

Integrated management strategies for maximizing soybean production in conservation tillage systems (including cover crops)

PI: Preza Fontes, G.

Co-PIs: Jones, J. et al

Illinois Soybean Association

$99,891

9/2025to 12/2026
         

Publications

Peer-reviewed Publications (50 listed)

  1. Abdelrhim, AS; Higgins, DS; Hausbeck, MK. 2025. Barley as an Alternative Host of Stemphylium vesicarium in Michigan Onions and Susceptibility of Poaceae Cover Crops. Plant Health Progress 26:507-515. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PHP-01-25-0036-RS
  2. Ashworth, A.J., A. Tyson, T. Prospt, L. Marshall, J.J. Volenec, M.D. Casler, M.T. Berti, E. van Santen, V. Picasso, J.L. Foster, and J. Su. 2025. Knowledge graph applications for identifying resilient forage systems.  Agricultural & Environmental Letters. DOI: 10.1002/ael2.70021
  3. Barker, R.W., M.J. Helmers, M.D. McDaniel. 2025. Cover crops can mitigate no-tillage-induced labile phosphorus stratification. Soil Science Society of America Journal 89 (3), e70063.
  4. Bergquist, G., C. Sheaffer, M. Rakkar, D. Wyse, J. Jungers, and J. Gutknecht. 2025. Soil microbial and plant biomass carbon allocation within perennial and annual grain cropping systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment. 383, 109535.
  5. Blanco‐Canqui, H., Ruis, S.J., Mamo, M., Shapiro, C.A., Proctor, C., Parsons, J. and Thompson, L., 2025. Interseeding cover crop into an irrigated sandy loam for 6 years: Soil, crop, and economic response. Agronomy Journal, 117(1), p.e70013.
  6. Berti M.T., Morocho-Lema, M., Anderson, J.V., and Lizarazo-Torres, C. 2025. Nitrogen rates affect seed yield and carbon intensity in spring and winter camelina. Ind Crops Prod. 233 Doi://doi.org/10.106/j.indcrop.2025.121473
  7. Berti, M.T., Morocho-Lema, M., and Anderson, J.V., 2025. Sensitivity of winter and spring camelina to salinity during germination. Ind. Crops Prod. 232: 121293 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.121293
  8. Cavadini, J.S., and E.J. Kladivko. 2025. Oilseed radish/cereal cover crop bicultures and soil phosphorus distribution. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224561.2024.2429960
  9. Chatterjee, A., Thorp, K.R., O’Brien, P.L., Kovar, J., Rogovska, N., Malone, R.W., 2025. Long-term DSSAT simulation of nitrogen loss to artificial subsurface drainage flow for a corn-soybean rotation with winter rye in Iowa. Agricultural Water Management, 312, 109464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109464
  10. Chen, K. 2025. High-resolution Winter Cover Crop Mapping with PlanetScope Imagery: Comparative Analysis of Random Forest, Convolutional Neural Network, and Unsupervised Classification. Science of Remote Sensing, 100351.
  11. Chudzik, G., Yu, E., Tangen, B., Werle, R. 2025. Cereal Rye Cover Crop Biomass Guide: A Practical Resource for Practitioners.
  12. Chudzik, G., Nunes, J.J., Arneson, N.J., DeWerff, R.P., de Sousa Ferreira, V., Proctor, C., Stoltenberg, D.E., Conley, S. and Werle, R., 2025. Postemergence giant ragweed management as affected by soil and cover crop management, soybean planting time, and preemergence herbicide application. Weed Technology, 39, p.e19.
  13. Crespo, C., Malone, R. W., Radke, A., Kovar, J. L., Emmett, B. D., Feyereisen, G. W., Thorp, K. R., Richard, T., & O'Brien, P. L. (2025). Rye performance in central Iowa under different seeding and nitrogen fertilizer rates. Agronomy Journal, 117, e70112. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70112
  14. Datta, A., Wilke, B., Charles, C., Hasenick, M., Ulbrich, T., Singh, M., Sears, M., & Robertson, G. P. Crop performance and profitability for the initial transition years of a regenerative cropping system in the Upper Midwest United States. Journal of Environmental Quality. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.70084
  15. Douridas, A., & Hawkins, E. (2025). Quantifying the effect of tillage and cover crops on soil moisture and temperature in central Ohio. Journal of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, 18(1). https://www.nacaa.com/file.ashx?id=8521b6a1-d232-42b8-8ed8-4ff3103f7f12
  16. du Preez, G; Loggenberg, A; Fourie, D; Marcelo-Silva, J; Martin, T; Ramphisa-Nghondzweni, D; Smith, H; Sprunger, C. 2025. Context Matters: Soil Ecosystem Status Varies across Diverse Conservation Agriculture Systems Journal of oil Science and Plant Nutrition 25:2576-2589. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s42729-025-02285-3      
  17. Dutter, C.R., M.D. McDaniel, M.P. Davis, T.A. Middleton, S. Gailans, S. Carlson. 2025. Cover crops have positive and negative effects on soil properties and crop yield over a 15‐year timespan. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 89(2), e70032.
  18. Ferreira de Almeida, T., Canisares, L. P., Robinson, E., Pesini, G., Poffenbarger, H., & Basche, A. 2025. Cover crops did not change optimal corn nitrogen rate over three variable precipitation seasons in the Western Corn Belt. Agronomy Journal, 117(4), p.e70129. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70129
  19. Frey, TS; Shah, DA; Lindsey, LE; Sprunger, C; Lopez-Nicora, HD; Ponce, MSB. 2025. Crop rotation and a rye cover crop have minor impacts on soil health, microbial communities, and soybean yield in Ohio. FRONTIERS IN SOIL SCIENCE 5:1535734. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fsoil.2025.1535734
  20. Garg, A., Kwakye, S., Cates, A., Peterson, H., Labine, K., Olson, G., & Sharma, V. (2025). Field-saturated and near-saturated soil hydraulic conductivity as influenced by conventional and soil health management systems. Soil and Tillage Research 248. doi: 10.1016/j.still.2025.106467
  21. Garg, A., Kwakye, S., Cates, A., Peterson, H., Labine, K., Olson, G., & Sharma, V. (2025). Integrated soil health management influences soil properties: Insights from a US Midwest study. Geoderma, 455. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117214
  22. Gesch, R.W., Eberle, C.A., Berti, M.T., Ott, M., and Anderson J.V. 2025. Productivity and seasonal water use of double cropped dry bean, proso millet, and sunflower after early maturing winter camelina. Ind. Crop Prod.229 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.120953
  23. Hussain, M. Z., Hamilton, S. K., Basso, B., & Robertson, G. P. (2025). Phosphorus budgets of intensively managed row crops at a long-term agroecosystem research site in the upper US Midwest. Journal of Environmental Quality. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.70000
  24. Karki, S., Shrestha, R., Lal, R., Lorenz, K., & Lindsey, L. E. (2025). Effects of biochar and cover crops on physical properties of two soils in Ohio. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 89, e70041. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70041
  25. Kundert, J., J. Jungers, J. Gamble, G. Bergquist, and J. Gutknecht. Temporal Variability of Soil Properties Under Annual and Perennial Continuous Living Cover: Weather Controls and Management Effects. Soil Science Society of America Journal. Accepted.
  26. Klopp, H.W., Blanco-Canqui, H., Jasa, P., Slater, G. and Ferguson, R.B., 2025. Lessons about soil health and corn yield after a decade of cover crop and corn residue management. Field Crops Research, 326, p.109860.
  27. Kumar, V., Singh, M., Thapa, R., Yadav, A., Blanco-Canqui, H., Wortman, S.E., Taghvaeian, S. and Jhala, A.J., 2025. Implications of cover crop management decisions on Amaranthus species density and biomass in temperate cropping systems: a meta-analysis. Weed Science, 73, p.e28.
  28. Maia, L.O.R, S.D. Armstrong, E.J. Kladivko, B.G. Young, & W.G. Johnson (2025). Influence of cover crop termination strategies on weed suppression, concentration of residual herbicides in the soil, and soybean yield. Weed Science 43 (1), e86
  29. Maia, L.O.R, S.D. Armstrong, E.J. Kladivko, B.G. Young, & W.G. Johnson. 2025. Influence of cover crop use on soil microbial activity and fate of sulfentrazone, s-metolachlor, cloransulam-methyl, atrazine, and mesotrione. Weed Science 73(1), e42
  30. Maia, L. O., Armstrong, S. D., Kladivko, E. J., Young, B. G., & Johnson, W. G. 2025. Impact of simulated rainfall on atrazine wash off from roller crimped and standing cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) residue onto the soil. Frontiers in Agronomy, 7, 1574497.
  31. Makhtoumi, Y; Aragon, NU; Lark, TJ. 2025. Opportunities for water quality improvements in a Mississippi River Basin watershed: Hotspots for agricultural conservation practices. Journal of Environmental Management 393:126797. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126797
  32. Marquart-Pyatt, ST; Beethem, K; Guo, T. 2025. Understanding the Drivers of Biological and Technological Practice Adoption by United States Midwest Farmers. Society and Natural Resources. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2025.2578785
  33. McDaniel, M.D., P. Mohammadiarvejeh, G. Hu, T.E. Middleton. 2025. What regulates decomposition in agroecosystems? Insights from reading the tea leaves. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 9, 1665233.
  34. Moran, Jack L., A. Susana Goggi, Kenneth J. Moore, Shuizhang Fei, and Shelby Gruss. Groundcover establishment through seed rate, seed ratio, and hydrophilic seed coating.  Agronomy 2019, 9, 458; doi:10.3390/agronomy9080458.
  35. Moran, Jack, A. Susana Goggi, Ken J. Moore, and Shuizhang Fei.   Investigating seed treatments and soil amendments to improve the establishment of kentucky bluegrass as a perennial groundcover.  Seeds 4: 16, DOI:10.3390/seeds4010016.
  36. Olowoyeye, Olowoyeye & Kaleita, Amy. (2026). Towards modeling soil erosion in a perennial groundcover (PGC) system. Ecological Modeling, 511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2025.111365
  37. Oys, E., Krupek, F. S., Proctor, C., Koehler-Cole, K., & Basche, A. 2025. Exploring how multi-year cover crop use alters above and belowground weed communities in limited tillage corn–soybean systems. Frontiers in Agronomy, 7, p.1575785. https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2025.1575785
  38. Pearsons, K.A., Y. Rui, and E.J. Kladivko. 2025. Decade-long cereal rye cover cropping improved soil carbon and physical properties of a poorly structured sil loam. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 89:e70165. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.7016
  39. Robertson, G. P., Wilke, B., Ulbrich, T., Haddad, N. M., Hamilton, S. K., Baas, D. G., Basso, B., Blesh, J., Boring, T. J., Campbell, L., Cassida, K. A., Charles, C., Chen, J., Doll, J. E., Guo, T., Kravchenko, A. N., Landis, D. A., Marquart-Pyatt, S. T., Singh, M. P., Sprunger, C. D., & Stegink, J. (2024). The LTAR Cropland Common Experiment at the Kellogg Biological Station. Journal of Environmental Quality. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.2063
  40. Rogovska, N., Kovar, J. L., Malone, R., O'Brien, P., Emmett, B., & Ruis, S. J. (2025). Impact of tillage, cover crop, and in situ bioreactors on nutrient loss from an artificially drained Midwestern Mollisol. Journal of Environmental Quality, 54: 590-604. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20668
  41. Seavers, R., & Quinn, D. J. 2025. Corn response to early‐and late‐vegetative nitrogen applications following a rye cover crop in Indiana. Agronomy Journal, 117(5), e70173.
  42. Seavers, R., & Quinn, D. J. 2025. Corn establishment and yield response to after‐market closing wheels in a rye cover crop system. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management, 11(2), e70069.
  43. Shiferaw, A., Birru, G., Tadesse, T., Wardlow, B., Awada, T., Jin, V., Schmer, M., Freidenreich, A. and Iqbal, J., 2025. Geographical Variation in Cover Crop Management and Outcomes in Continuous Corn Farming System in Nebraska. Agriculture, 15(16), p.1776.
  44. Silva, T.S., L.C. Malone, M.D. Ruark, C.D. Lee, D. Jordan, H.J. Poffenbarger, H.J. Kandel, J. Ross, J.M. Gaska, J.G. Lauer, L.E. Lindsey, M.P. Singh, M.A. Licht, M. Plumblee, R.A. Vann, R. Werle, S. Mourtzinis, S.L. Naeve, T.L. Roberts, and S.P. Conley. 2026. Impacts of rotation, tillage, cover cropping, and drainage on soil health in soybean-based cropping systems: Evidence from 4–50-year trials across the US. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2025.109950
  45. Silva, TS; Malone, LC; Ruark, MD; Mourtzinis, S; Lee, CD; Jordan, D; Kandel, HJ; Ross, J; Gaska, JM; Lauer, JG; Lindsey, LE; Singh, MP; Licht, MA; Plumblee, M; Vann, RA; Werle, R; Naeve, SL; Roberts, TL; Conley, SP. 2025. Soybean yield response to management practices (4–40 years) and soil health parameters. Field Crops Research 329:109959. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109959                                    
  46. Sutton, E; Snapp, S; Morrone, V; Blesh, J. 2025. Cover crop functional trait plasticity in response to soil conditions and interspecific interactions. Plant and Soil 514:1489-1506. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07471-x
  47. Omonode, R. A., and E.J. Kladivko. 2025. Subsurface drainage intensity effects on soil physical characteristics, plant biomass production, and carbon balance. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 89, e70106. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70106
  48. Thapa, V. R., Koehler‐Cole, K., Easterly, A., La Menza, N. C., Pacheco, G. E., McKinley, B., & Basche, A. 2025. Biomass and forage nutritive value of spring‐planted cover crops in a semiarid region. Agronomy Journal, 117(5), p.e70154. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70154
  49. Wehrbein, C. and Wortman, S.E., 2025. Cover Crop Windbreaks Can Slow Deterioration of Biodegradable Mulch Film and Increase Bell Pepper Yield. HortScience 60:1802-1810.
  50. Tangen, B. L., Vetsch, J. A., Johnson, G. A., Strock, J. S., Daigh, A. L. M., Phillips, C. L., & Cates, A. M. 2025. Soil health management system impacts on dynamic soil hydraulic functions before and after rainfall. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 394: 109839.
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