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No-till and Cover Cropping Help Retain Moisture in Sandy Soil

JASON BAKER/TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH PHOTO

Many producers have converted to no-till, and now progressive farmers are learning to cover crop to keep soil covered after harvesting a cash crop. Ryan Speer is such a producer. He farms in central Kansas along the Arkansas River south of Halstead. He grows corn, soybeans, wheat and milo, in sandy soil poor at retaining moisture. Ryan started cover-cropping in 2007. By improving the biological material in his soil, more moisture is being stored from precipitation events.

PARTICIPANTS:

Ryan Speer
Producer
Halstead, KS

Candy Thomas
State Agronomist-Kansas
NRCS
Salina, KS

Produced by Playa Lakes Joint Venture.