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NORTH DAKOTA
Activities and research
Researchers from North Dakota State University and the USDA-ARS Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory in Mandan are investigating agronomic, environmental, and economic impacts of cover crops in ND’s semi-arid cropping systems. We are evaluating the influence of root crops, warm and cool season grasses, warm and cool season legumes, and non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal broadleaf species as cover crops planted individually and in mixtures. Research is also being conducted on cover crop termination techniques and intercropping methods of establishing cash crops into cover crops. Our initial interest in cover crop research was motivated by the work of ND farmers who turned to cover crops as a way to retain soil moisture, build soil structure, protect against soil erosion, reduce chemical inputs, and enhance nutrient cycling on their farms.
Selection of Cover Crops Used in North Dakota
Warm Season Grasses
- Proso millet (Proso Millet in North Dakota, A-805 (revised), July 2007 by Duane R. Berglund, Professor Emeritus and Former Extension Agronomist)
- Sorghum sudan
- Pearl millet
Cool Season Grasses – (http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/disaster/drought/annualforagesfall.html)
- Spring triticale
- Ryegrass
- Winter Rye
- Barley
- Winter wheat
Warm Season Legumes
- Soybean
- Cowpea (Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers 2008, pp. 106-110; available online here
)
- Lentil
- Field pea
- Hairy Vetch
Non-mycorrhizal Broadleaves
- Winter canola
Mycorrhizal Broadleaves
- Sunflower
Root Crops
- Pasja turnip
- Purpletop turnip
- Oilseed Radish
State representative
Coming soon...
Other important contacts and programs in the state
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Dr. Patrick Carr Phone: (701) 483-2581 |
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Dr. Patrick Carr – Dr. Carr is the station agronomist at the Dickinson Research Extension Center. His research responsibilities include development of organic and conventional cropping systems at the Center and at off-station locations. His current research interests include cover crop management in both organic and conventional systems. One cover crops experiment is a matrix study designed to evaluate effects of cover crop species individually and in mixtures for ND cropping systems in southwestern North Dakota. The matrix study is a collaborative effort with USDA-ARS scientists at the Northern Great Plains Research Center in Mandan, ND. Dr. Carr is an adjunct professor of sustainable agriculture in both the Department of Plant Sciences at North Dakota State University, and in the Department of Agriculture and Technical Studies at Dickinson Sate University. He is a past member of the administrative council of NCR-SARE.
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Dr. Don Tanaka Phone: (701) 667-3063 |
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Dr. Don Tanaka – Dr. Don Tanaka is a Research Soil Scientist at the USDA-ARS Northern Great Plain Research Laboratory, Mandan, ND. He has pioneered no-till crop sequence research to take advantage of soil/crop ecology interactions, and in doing so, contributed to a significant evolution in cropping system research where production synergies lead to increased crop production, lower input requirements, and an enhanced natural resource base. Dr. Tanaka is currently implementing a cover crop matrix study to evaluate the effects of cover crop species individually and in combinations for ND cropping systems.
MCCC Report
Links
North Dakota State University
- Double Cropping: Spring Wheat Followed by a Legume by Sharon Clancy, Steve Zwinger, Virgil Dagmen and Clark Lemley
- 2007 Variety Trial from all NDSU Research Centers (link to publications)
- North Dakota - Hay Legumes Menu
- Field Pea - Alternative Agriculture Series No.16 (August 1993) by Randy Sell
- Summer Cover Crops by N. G. Creamer and K. R. Baldwin
- Forage Options:Warm-season Grasses by Duane Berglund, NDSU Extension Agronomist Reviewed May 2004.
- Minnesota Impacts - Cropping Systems, Cover Crops, and Alternative Crops in Northern Minnesota
Other links
- Richter farms use cover crops for soil health, fall grazing - article by Sue Roesler, Farm & Ranch Guide (September 16, 2007)
- North Central Region SARE program (grants). Additional information on the program here.
- Lower Pipestem Creek Watershed Project
- Profits Soar - Article by Lon Tonneson, Dakota Farmer (July 2007)
- Soil Health Workshop -Report in the NBC North Dakota local news
- The Power Behind Crop Rotations - The Dakota Lakes Research Farm
- Video titled “Cover Crops for Conservation“ (1:59 minutes) – a ND farmer and rancher describes how he came to rely on cover crops
- “Overview of Green Manures/Cover Crops” by J.F. Power (1993 – presented at the Northeastern and Intermountain Forest and Conservation Nursery Association Meeting)
- “Rye as a Cover Crop” by Preston Sullivan (ATTRA publication, May 2002)
- “Medics as self-regenerating cover crops in Canadian prairie grain systems” by Martin Entz et al. 2003.
- “New cover crop research builds on producers’ success” by Sue Roesler for Minnesota Farm Guide. July 3, 2008
- “Livestock on the Brown ranch harvest cover crops” by Sue Roesler for Farm & Ranch Guide. March 3, 2007
- “New Vetch for Northern Climes – and Organic Growers” by Don Comis in Agricultural Research April, 2008.
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