The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1392557
The perks of cover crop As you drive around the county this planting season, you may come across beau- tifully covered fields like the one above. This farmer will get the most out of his plant- ing season, as he has cover crops working for his soil tilth and productivity. The protective canopy formed by a cover crop reduc- es the impact of raindrops on the soil surface, thereby de- creasing the breakdown of soils aggregates. This greatly reduces soil erosion and run- off and increases infiltration. Decreased soil loss and runoff translates to reduced transport of valuable nutri- ents, pesticides, herbicides, and harmful pathogens as- sociated with manure from farmland that degrade the quality of streams, rivers and water bodies and pose a threat to human health. Over time, a cover crop reg- imen will increase soil organ- ic matter, leading to improve- ments in soil structure, stabil- ity, and increased moisture and nutrient holding capacity for plant growth. When a cover crop is man- aged for its contribution to soil nitrogen, the application of a nitrogen fertilizer for the subsequent crop may be less, thereby lowering costs of production, reduced nitro- gen losses to the environment and reducing the use of pur- chased nitrogen fertilizer that is produced using fossil fuels. Cover crops will reduce or mitigate soil compaction. Deep tap roots of some cov- er crops grown in the fall and spring when compacted layers are relatively soft and can pen- etrate these layers. A cover crop can provide high-quality material for graz- ing livestock or haying and can provide food and habitat for wildlife, beneficial insects, and pollinators. For more information on cover crops and getting start- ed please contact the Pike County NRCS at (812) 354- 6120 ext. 3 This field uses a cover crop mix of hairy vetch, crimson clover, sweet pea, ladino clover and oats. Free invasive plant surveys Background: Southern In- diana Cooperative Invasives Management has worked alongside the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Ser- vice to combat invasive plants and raise public awareness of the devastation caused by these non-native pests. It be- came clear that the problem of invasives must be addressed at the local level through lo- cal people using local resourc- es. To coordinate efforts, SICIM and the NRCS signed an agreement to develop local Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas through- out Indiana. SICIM then cre- ated the Indiana Invasives Ini- tiative (III) project to imple- ment the agreement. Through the III project, a team of 6 Re- gional Specialists employed by SICIM actively work at the county level with local con- servation agencies to devel- op new CISMAs and provide technical assistance to land- owners. Included in this technical assistance to landowners is free invasive plant surveys. Many landowners have no- ticed that non-native invasive plant species are overtaking their lands, crowding out na- tive plants, and making it dif- ficult for wildlife to thrive. The good news is that you do not have to face these bat- tles alone. Anyone who owns or manages land will have to deal with these plants. The re- gional specialist for your ar- ea with come to your proper- ty and identify invasive plant species, write a brush man- agement plan, and give you in- formation on how to best con- trol the invasive species spe- cific to your property. Kaila Knies, the Region- al Specialist serving Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Gibson, Har- rison , Jackson, Lawrence, Orange, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Wash- ington, and Warrick counties is now starting to book land- owner surveys for 2021. All so- cial distancing protocols will be followed. If you would like to schedule a survey, please contact Kaila Knies by email at kaila@sicim.info. Farmer's Right-To-Repair showdown with FTC By Alex Mahrenholz Extension Educator, Pike County Extension Office A presidential executive order limiting the Federal Trade Commission's ability to dictate where farmers have their machinery repaired is in the works. Some machinery manufacturers such as John Deere and AgCo use software and tools to prevent third par- ties from performing repairs. Companies often state that these limitations are in place to reduce safety risks to the operator like those from im- properly installed batteries as well as protecting environ- mental regulation standards from modifications on trac- tors and other heavy equip- ment. The proprietary tools utilized by these manufactur- ers are often at a great cost to the farmer and ultimate- ly reduces competition in the overall economy. Both Presi- dent Biden and the U.S. De- partment of Agriculture (US - DA) have stated they believe farmers should have the right to repair or supervise the re- pair of their own equipment as they choose. The order from the White House is also ex- pected to include several oth- er actions to boost the agri- culture industry, including new rules that make it easi- er for livestock producers to sue large processors if they are underpaid and updating the current "Product of USA" labeling standards to restrict companies from labeling food produced overseas as Ameri- can-made even if it was pro- cessed domestically. CREATIVITY. OUR SPECIALTY. The Press Dispatch PIKE COUNTY'S NEWS NETWORK Design by two of Indiana's top designers is included with every ad purchase. Call today! 812-354-8500 OR ADS@PRESSDISPATCH.NET A-12 Pike County Planter ■ Summer 2021 The Press-Dispatch B . c n I , . o C t n e m p i u q E s r e h t o r B h c s e l 4 e v A y k c u t n e K E 7 0 , H d n a l l o , IN 4 1 4 5 7 w m o c . S O R B H C S E L B . w w 8 6 8 4 3 6 3 5 2 1 H d n e s r e f f o , y r r u S 1 2 0 2 , 0 3 r e b m e t p e . . m o c . s r e f f o h n t i s i v r o y a d o t y b p o t S * . s t n e m e r i u q e r y t i l i b i g i l e d n a s l i a t e d r o f r e l a e d d n a l l o H w e N r u o y e e S . C L L a c i r e m A l a t i p a C l a i r t s u d n I H N C y b l a v o r p p a d n a n o i t a c fi i l a u q t i d e r c o t t c e j b u s n o i t a p i c i t r a p r e m o t s u C . y l n o e s u l a i c r e m m o c r o F C t a , 1 2 0 2 , 0 3 r e b m e t p e S l i t n u d o o g r e f f O . y f i l a u q y a m s t n a c i l p p a r o s r e m o t s u c l l a t o N . d e r i u q e r e b y a m t n e m y a p n w o D . y l p p a l l i w s n o i t i d n o c d n a s m r e t d r a d n a t s C L L a c i r e m A l a t i p a C l a i r t s u d n I H N p n o i t a l l e c n a c r o e g n a h c o t t c e j b u s r e f f O . e c i r p l i a t e r d e t s e g g u s n i d e d u l c n i t o n s t n e m h c a t t a r o s n o i t p o l a n o i t i d d a , y r e v i l e d , p u - t e s , t h g i e r f , s e x a T . s e t a t S d e t i n U e h t n i s r e l a e d d n a l l o H w e N g n i t a p i c i t r a w r o y b d e n w o , s e i r t n u o c r e h t o y n a m d n a s e t a t S d e t i n U e h t n i d e r e t s i g e r s k r a m e d a r t e r a d n a l l o H w e N d n a l a t i p a C l a i r t s u d n I H N C . d e v r e s e r s t h g i r l l A . C L L a c i r e m A l a i r t s u d n I H N C 1 2 0 2 © . e c i t o n t u o h t i l . s e t a i l fi f a r o s e i r a i d i s b u s s t i , . V . N l a i r t s u d n I H N C o t d e s n e c i MORE SAVINGS. NOW'S THE TIME TO HARVEST 0% Financing * Cash Back offers! and GET EQUIPMENT THAT WORKS AS HARD AS YOU DO DURING HARVEST DAYS. Be ready for your next harvest and save with reliable, productive New Holland tractors and equipment. See us for special offers on select mid-range and high-horsepower tractors, hay and forage equipment, and more. Rely on New Holland power and versatility to make this harvest your best. B . c n I , . o C t n e m p i u q E s r e h t o r B h c s e l 4 e v A y k c u t n e K E 7 0 , H d n a l l o , IN 4 1 4 5 7 w m o c . S O R B H C S E L B . w w 8 6 8 4 3 6 3 5 2 1 H d n e s r e f f o , y r r u S 1 2 0 2 , 0 3 r e b m e t p e . . m o c . s r e f f o h n t i s i v r o y a d o t y b p o t S * . s t n e m e r i u q e r y t i l i b i g i l e d n a s l i a t e d r o f r e l a e d d n a l l o H w e N r u o y e e S . C L L a c i r e m A l a t i p a C l a i r t s u d n I H N C y b l a v o r p p a d n a n o i t a c fi i l a u q t i d e r c o t t c e j b u s n o i t a p i c i t r a p r e m o t s u C . y l n o e s u l a i c r e m m o c r o F C t a , 1 2 0 2 , 0 3 r e b m e t p e S l i t n u d o o g r e f f O . y f i l a u q y a m s t n a c i l p p a r o s r e m o t s u c l l a t o N . d e r i u q e r e b y a m t n e m y a p n w o D . y l p p a l l i w s n o i t i d n o c d n a s m r e t d r a d n a t s C L L a c i r e m A l a t i p a C l a i r t s u d n I H N p n o i t a l l e c n a c r o e g n a h c o t t c e j b u s r e f f O . e c i r p l i a t e r d e t s e g g u s n i d e d u l c n i t o n s t n e m h c a t t a r o s n o i t p o l a n o i t i d d a , y r e v i l e d , p u - t e s , t h g i e r f , s e x a T . s e t a t S d e t i n U e h t n i s r e l a e d d n a l l o H w e N g n i t a p i c i t r a w r o y b d e n w o , s e i r t n u o c r e h t o y n a m d n a s e t a t S d e t i n U e h t n i d e r e t s i g e r s k r a m e d a r t e r a d n a l l o H w e N d n a l a t i p a C l a i r t s u d n I H N C . d e v r e s e r s t h g i r l l A . C L L a c i r e m A l a i r t s u d n I H N C 1 2 0 2 © . e c i t o n t u o h t i l . s e t a i l fi f a r o s e i r a i d i s b u s s t i , . V . N l a i r t s u d n I H N C o t d e s n e c i MORE SAVINGS. NOW'S THE TIME TO HARVEST 0% Financing * Cash Back offers! and GET EQUIPMENT THAT WORKS AS HARD AS YOU DO DURING HARVEST DAYS. Be ready for your next harvest and save with reliable, productive New Holland tractors and equipment. See us for special offers on select mid-range and high-horsepower tractors, hay and forage equipment, and more. Rely on New Holland power and versatility to make this harvest your best. B . c n I , . o C t n e m p i u q E s r e h t o r B h c s e l 4 e v A y k c u t n e K E 7 0 , H d n a l l o , IN 4 1 4 5 7 w m o c . S O R B H C S E L B . w w 8 6 8 4 3 6 3 5 2 1 H d n e s r e f f o , y r r u S 1 2 0 2 , 0 3 r e b m e t p e . . m o c . s r e f f o h n t i s i v r o y a d o t y b p o t S * . s t n e m e r i u q e r y t i l i b i g i l e d n a s l i a t e d r o f r e l a e d d n a l l o H w e N r u o y e e S . C L L a c i r e m A l a t i p a C l a i r t s u d n I H N C y b l a v o r p p a d n a n o i t a c fi i l a u q t i d e r c o t t c e j b u s n o i t a p i c i t r a p r e m o t s u C . y l n o e s u l a i c r e m m o c r o F C t a , 1 2 0 2 , 0 3 r e b m e t p e S l i t n u d o o g r e f f O . y f i l a u q y a m s t n a c i l p p a r o s r e m o t s u c l l a t o N . d e r i u q e r e b y a m t n e m y a p n w o D . y l p p a l l i w s n o i t i d n o c d n a s m r e t d r a d n a t s C L L a c i r e m A l a t i p a C l a i r t s u d n I H N p n o i t a l l e c n a c r o e g n a h c o t t c e j b u s r e f f O . e c i r p l i a t e r d e t s e g g u s n i d e d u l c n i t o n s t n e m h c a t t a r o s n o i t p o l a n o i t i d d a , y r e v i l e d , p u - t e s , t h g i e r f , s e x a T . s e t a t S d e t i n U e h t n i s r e l a e d d n a l l o H w e N g n i t a p i c i t r a w r o y b d e n w o , s e i r t n u o c r e h t o y n a m d n a s e t a t S d e t i n U e h t n i d e r e t s i g e r s k r a m e d a r t e r a d n a l l o H w e N d n a l a t i p a C l a i r t s u d n I H N C . d e v r e s e r s t h g i r l l A . C L L a c i r e m A l a i r t s u d n I H N C 1 2 0 2 © . e c i t o n t u o h t i l . s e t a i l fi f a r o s e i r a i d i s b u s s t i , . V . N l a i r t s u d n I H N C o t d e s n e c i MORE SAVINGS. NOW'S THE TIME TO HARVEST 0% Financing * Cash Back offers! and GET EQUIPMENT THAT WORKS AS HARD AS YOU DO DURING HARVEST DAYS. Be ready for your next harvest and save with reliable, productive New Holland tractors and equipment. See us for special offers on select mid-range and high-horsepower tractors, hay and forage equipment, and more. Rely on New Holland power and versatility to make this harvest your best. www.BLESCHBROS.com WE SERVICE WHAT WE SELL! Equipment Company 407 E Kentucky Ave, Holland 812-536-3486