About this Session

Cover Crop Management Factors in a Peanut/Cotton Rotation

Presented by: Dr. Kip Balkcom, Research Agronomist, USDA-ARS – Natl. Soil Dynamics Lab.

Cover crops are a critical component of conservation systems and when combined with conservation tillage can provide benefits to southeastern soils. Unfortunately, cover crops are not free and require time and labor to plant and properly manage to maximize benefits associated with them. Cover crop management considerations with respect to a cotton/peanut rotation will be discussed to enhance return on invest and associated benefits from cover crops.

Using Poultry Litter On No-Till, Skip Row Cotton

Presented by: Nick McMichen, Alabama Farmer

Poultry litter has been a huge fertilizer saving asset for McMichen as he raises no-till, skip row cotton. In the area where he farms, poultry litter is readily available and he finds there’s about a $30 an acre savings in using this process. By applying the litter about 30 days prior to planting he can benefit from the full nitrogen in the litter, he says. He will share his experience of 33 years of farming to help others be more profitable.

McMichen attended Gadsden State Community College in Gadsden, AL, with plans to work toward a degree in agronomy and soils. However, an opportunity arose to double the size of the farm, so he left school to pursue that opportunity.