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Increase the health of your fields by planting a crop and leaving it for an entire season. The benefits of cover crops have been publicized for years. Although they are grown primarily to prevent soil erosion, cover crops can also contribute to nitrogen production, increase soil microbial activity, reduce insect pests and suppress weeds. Viewer [...]

Did you know that it takes 500 to 1,000 years to build just one-inch of soil? Soils form slowly and continuously, thanks to a number of factors, including: Climate: Temperature, wind and water “weather” or break down rocks and minerals that form soils. Life: Burrowing animals, plant roots, tiny bacteria and fungi mix soils and [...]

Some beneficial insects help farmers and gardeners by pollinating crops, while others prey on destructive pests, keeping their numbers so low that they don’t damage valuable crops and gardens. Attracting beneficial insects to your field—and keeping them there—requires the right plants to feed and house them. “Farmscaping” is the use of hedgerows, insect-hosting plants, cover [...]

Good crops of our favorite fruits depend on spring flowers being pollinated. Some plants are pollinated by the wind, but many are dependent on bees and other pollen-carrying insects. Populations of both honeybees and native pollen bees have declined in recent years and low fruit crop yields often blamed on bad weather may actually be [...]

Seed catalogs start arriving while the weather is still chilly. In addition to enticing, colorful pictures, these catalogs usually contain information that can help growers achieve a successful harvest by matching plants to their climate. Viewer tip: Two pieces of information in particular can help growers choose plants that work well in their locations. First, [...]

The official start of spring is just around the corner.  But before you begin spring planting, it is important to give some attention to soils.  The amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils are constantly changing – plants use up nutrients in the soil and some nutrients may be washed away by rain [...]

The official start of spring is just around the corner. But before you begin spring planting, it is important to give some attention to soils. The amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils are constantly changing – plants use up nutrients in the soil and some nutrients may be washed away by rain [...]

The official start of spring is just around the corner. But before you begin spring planting, it is important to give some attention to soils. The amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils are constantly changing – plants use up nutrients in the soil and some nutrients may be washed away by rain [...]

The official start of spring is just around the corner. But before you begin spring planting, it is important to give some attention to soils. The amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils are constantly changing – plants use up nutrients in the soil and some nutrients may be washed away by rain [...]

The official start of spring is just around the corner. But before you begin spring planting, it is important to give some attention to soils. The amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils are constantly changing – plants use up nutrients in the soil and some nutrients may be washed away by rain [...]

The official start of spring is just around the corner. But before you begin spring planting, it is important to give some attention to soils. The amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils are constantly changing – plants use up nutrients in the soil and some nutrients may be washed away by rain [...]

The official start of spring is just around the corner. But before you begin spring planting, it is important to give some attention to soils. The amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils are constantly changing – plants use up nutrients in the soil and some nutrients may be washed away by rain [...]

The official start of spring is just around the corner. But before you begin spring planting, it is important to give some attention to soils. The amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils are constantly changing – plants use up nutrients in the soil and some nutrients may be washed away by rain [...]

The official start of spring is just around the corner. But before you begin spring planting, it is important to give some attention to soils. The amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils are constantly changing – plants use up nutrients in the soil and some nutrients may be washed away by rain [...]

The official start of spring is just around the corner. But before you begin spring planting, it is important to give some attention to soils. The amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils are constantly changing – plants use up nutrients in the soil and some nutrients may be washed away by rain [...]

The official start of spring is just around the corner. But before you begin spring planting, it is important to give some attention to soils. The amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils are constantly changing – plants use up nutrients in the soil and some nutrients may be washed away by rain [...]

The official start of spring is just around the corner. But before you begin spring planting, it is important to give some attention to soils. The amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils are constantly changing – plants use up nutrients in the soil and some nutrients may be washed away by rain [...]

The official start of spring is just around the corner. But before you begin spring planting, it is important to give some attention to soils. The amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils are constantly changing – plants use up nutrients in the soil and some nutrients may be washed away by rain [...]

The official start of spring is just around the corner. But before you begin spring planting, it is important to give some attention to soils. The amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils are constantly changing – plants use up nutrients in the soil and some nutrients may be washed away by rain [...]

The official start of spring is just around the corner. But before you begin spring planting, it is important to give some attention to soils. The amounts of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils are constantly changing – plants use up nutrients in the soil and some nutrients may be washed away by rain [...]