Search

Rob Myers, Ph.D., regional coordinator for North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education at the University of Missouri, describes Bill Buckner, retiring president and CEO of the Noble Research Institute, as an advocate for cover crops who is committed to helping farmers and ranchers overcome challenges in adopting them for their soil health benefits.

Specialty crop growers can use protected agriculture technologies to manage risks associated with growing fruits and vegetables in unpredictable, often extreme weather events. Technologies include raised beds equipped with plastic mulch film, floating crop covers, low tunnels and high tunnel hoop houses.

Bill Buckner, president and CEO, describes how the Noble Research Institute is providing solutions to farmers and ranchers as they, and others in agriculture, realize the opportunities offered by cover crops.

This year, the Noble Research Institute is pleased to recognize Mr. Jimmy Kinder of Walters, Oklahoma, as the 2018 recipient of the Leonard Wyatt Memorial Outstanding Cooperator Award. Jimmy Kinder and his wife, Margaret, have been cooperators with the Noble Research Institute since 2007.

Wind and water carries tons of topsoil, the foundation of life, away from farmland each year. The soil, and its ability to produce food, slowly weakens. Farmers and ranchers are increasingly adopting an old-time armor for soil: cover crops. But they have many questions that still need answered.

Generally speaking, a 1% increase in organic matter corresponds to an increase in soil water-holding capacity by about 20,000 gallons of water per acre.

Advanced line trials will be evaluated in 2019 for performance in a broader range of geographic areas as a step toward release of commercial cultivars adapted for us as cover crops.