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Minnesota farmer saw benefits of cover crops by “second or third year”

The benefits of soil health practices became evident to a central Minnesota farmer within a few years.

Tom Gregory of Kimball says he began using cover crops over a decade ago.

“Like maybe the second or third year I started seeing, when we had drier weather the crops seemed to hang in there better (because cover crops) help hold the moisture in and gets all that bacteria action going on (which) helps feed the plants.”

And he tells Brownfield the advantages build over time.

“Our yields are higher, herbicides work better. Your fertilizers work better because when you get all that worm action and microbial action, the soil actually builds its own fertilizer from the castings of the worms. It seems like you find a better balance.”

Gregory is also a county soil water service supervisor and says there’s state and federal funding to help farmers get started.