Cutting fertilizer costs by utilizing cover crops

Amanda PhillipsContributor Lowering fertilizer cost is critical in today’s economy. Reducing commercial fertilizer rates is probably the most helpful thing a farmer can do to cut costs, but it is a fine line from providing enough fertilizer for excellent yields and maintaining profit margins. This delicate balance may be helped by employing cover crops to help with soil amendments for the next crop and potentially lowering the amount of commercial fertilizer purchased. The benefits of cover crops are many and are not limited to just lowering fertilizer cost. Cover crops both increase soil organic matter and enhance soil fertility. Cover crops can be utilized between cash crop cycles or