By Melissa McEnany and Daniel Andersen
A five-week lunch-and-learn webinar series starting in January will explore the innovative use of perennial groundcovers in corn and corn/soybean production systems as a cover crop. This series, sponsored by Iowa State University and RegenPCG, will be held on consecutive Tuesdays (Jan. 14, 21, 28 and Feb. 4 and 11, 2025) from 12-1 p.m. CST.
As sustainable agriculture continues to grow in importance, perennial groundcovers used within corn and soybean production systems offer a promising solution, noted Daniel Andersen, associate professor in agriculture and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University.
“Perennial ground covers are plants that are established and maintained within the row crop production system without needing to be replanted annually. They can help suppress weeds, provide habitat for beneficial insects and offer environmental benefits for erosion and nitrogen control,” Andersen said. “However, they increase complexity in our cropping system so require careful management to ensure competitive yields with traditional methods of crop production.”
This webinar series will focus on providing information on what perennial groundcover agriculture is, the potential benefits it offers, insight into how to effectively manage these systems, and work that is being undertaken to make them more robust for widespread adoption and implementation. The presentations are tailored for farmers, crop advisors, technical service providers, government agencies (NRCS/DNR) and other agricultural scientists eager to understand the possibilities and challenges of integrating perennial groundcovers into their row crop agriculture.
Webinar schedule, speakers, topics
Jan. 14, 2025 – Perennial Ground Cover Integration into Corn and Soybean Production: System Basics and Potential Benefits; all speakers are from Iowa State University.
- Raj Raman – A visionary overview of the potential and scalability of perennial groundcovers in corn and soybean production systems
- Ken Moore and Roger Hintz – An operational guide to implementing a perennial groundcover in corn and soybean production systems
- Philip Rockson – A comparative analysis of time and labor demands across conventional, cereal rye and perennial ground cover in corn and soybean production systems
- Cyndi Bartel – Comparisons of costs for conventional, cover cropping and perennial groundcover in corn and soybean production systems
Jan. 21, 2025 – Perennial Ground Cover Suppression and Weed Management within Corn and Soybean Production Systems
- Amina Moro, Iowa State University – Crop Zone Requirements
- Sara Lira and Brent Wilson, Corteva Agriscience – Techniques for maintaining a crop growth zone in corn and soybean production systems
- Erin Haramoto, University of Kentucky – Chemical weed control options for perennial groundcover systems. Experiences and options
Jan. 28, 2025 – Selecting Perennial Groundcovers for Corn and Soybean Production Systems and Their Ideal Characteristics
- Shuizhang Fei, Iowa State University – Choices for perennial groundcover in corn and soybean production systems
- Patrick Galland, Iowa State University – Research of unsuppressed production systems with perennial ground cover in corn production
- Brandon Schlautman, The Land Institute, and Philip Rockson, Iowa State University – Experiences from partnering farms using perennial ground cover in corn and soy production systems
Feb. 4, 2025 – Corn Hybrid Performance within Perennial Groundcover Systems
- Raj Raman, Iowa State University – Types of perennial groundcover production systems and how this influences brittleness
- Thomas Lubberstedt and Memis Bilgici, Iowa State University – Should we breed corn for use in perennial groundcover production systems?
- Sara Lira, Corteva Agriscience – Evaluating hybrid performance in well suppressed perennial groundcover systems
Feb. 11, 2025 – Quantifying and Valorizing Ecosystem Service Benefits for Perennial Groundcover in Corn and Soybean Production; all speakers are from Iowa State University
- Marshall McDaniel– Soil moisture results and water competition for nitrogen in perennial groundcover systems
- Oluwatuyi Olowoyeye – Research on grass cover and erosion control
- Philip Rockson – Findings on nitrogen leaching reduction
- Cyndi Bartel – Federal farm bill programs and valorizing ecosystem services
Register now
The series provides an opportunity to deepen your knowledge and join the conversation on the future of sustainable agriculture, Andersen said. Register for the webinar series today and stay tuned for the video series release.
For more information about the series, please contact Daniel Andersen at dsa@iastate.edu or 515-294-4210. For registration inquiries, please contact Melissa McEnany at mmcenany@iastate.edu or 515-294-9075.
About Iowa State University and RegenPCG
Iowa State University and RegenPCG is dedicated to advancing agricultural practices through research, education and innovation. We aim to provide farmers, advisors and scientists with the knowledge and tools they need to improve soil health, protect the environment and maintain productivity.
Source : iastate.edu