News

Growing nitrogen with legume cover crops

Published on May 10, 2023
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth, but price fluctuations of fertilizers leave farmers looking for alternative solutions. Planting legumes as a cover crop can increase soil nitrogen and perhaps even reduce reliance on fertilizers.
Alfalfa fields wanted to test method for detecting autotoxicity before planting

Published on May 2, 2023
MSU researchers are developing a method to fine-tune alfalfa planting decisions by detecting autotoxicity in soils and we need farm fields where we can test it.
Michigan’s biochar

Published on March 30, 2023
Chris Saffron and Mike Person of the Great Lakes Biochar Network discuss the properties of biochar and its industry potential in the Great Lakes region.
Prairie strips: A case study on improving farming yields and pollinator habitat by transforming unprofitable farmland into prairie

Published on March 1, 2023
Creating an agroecosystem to benefit wildlife, research, and the future of farming.
New MSU research helps better quantify soil carbon stock changes

Published on February 27, 2023
In a new paper published in Scientific Reports, MSU professor Bruno Basso shows how scientists must use a correction calculation to accurately quantify changes in soil carbon stocks over time.
Wheat is the soil health advantage

Published on February 6, 2023
Laura Van Eerd details how soil metrics of her long-term experiments were influenced by the reintroduction of wheat.
Clearing up nutrient unknowns on In the Weeds podcast series

Published on January 19, 2023
“In the Weeds” podcast navigates the uncertain waters of the fertilizer markets with Kurt Steinke, MSU Extension soil fertility specialist.
In the Weeds podcast highlights key findings from Kellogg Biological Station research

Published on January 19, 2023
Agriculture is an intricate system of inputs and outputs. Come listen to the “In the Weeds” podcast as we explore the complexities.
Collaborative video series with the Midwest Cover Crop Council

Published on January 11, 2023
A new video series on Midwest Cover Crop Council’s YouTube highlights Michigan farmers using cover crops.
Interpreting manure analysis results

Published on December 15, 2022
Applying the appropriate amount of manure requires correct interpretation of the manure test results.