Full course description
UM System employees: Please note that you do not need to create a new registration account. You will have the option to enroll with your UM System credentials.
Course Overview:
The purpose of this certificate course, Fundamentals of Cover Crops, is to better equip farmers, farm advisors, conservation professionals, and others interested in the fundamental concepts related to using cover crops. There is no other single agronomic tool that offers as many on-farm benefits as cover crops. These 11 training modules will provide knowledge on cover crop selection, management, economics, and related topics.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Explain the benefits of cover crops and their impacts on soil health
- Summarize the general process of a cover crop system from selecting cover crop species to seed establishment, termination, and subsequent cash crop planting
- Identify ecosystem services cover crops can provide such as promoting beneficial insects, soil erosion prevention, improving soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, reduced weed growth, and contributions to climate change mitigation through soil carbon sequestration
- Recognize how cover crops promote farm resiliency through livestock integration
- Identify potential pest and nutrient issues in cover crop systems
- Interpret economic benefits and business strategies for using cover crops
Topics:
Module 1: Cover Crops and their Top 10 Impacts on Soil Health
Module 2: Selecting Cover Crop Species
Module 3: Managing Nutrients and Herbicides When Using Cover Crops
Module 4: Cover Crop Seeding and Establishment
Module 5: Grazing Cover Crops
Module 6: Cover Crop Termination
Module 7: Strategies for Cash Crop Planting Following a Cover Crop, Including “Planting Green”
Module 8: Pest Issues with Cover Crops
Module 9: Cover Crop Impacts on Wildlife, Birds and Pollinators
Module 10: The Business of Cover Crops: Trends and Opportunities
Module 11: Cover Crop Economics
Instructor(s):
Dr. Olivia Caillouet, Dr. Rob Myers, & Bethany Bedeker
Length:
11 hours
Department:
Center for Regenerative Agriculture
Credit:
5.5 Certified Crop Advisor Continuing Education credits are available
Audience:
Extension and conservation professionals, farmers, crop advisors
Accommodations
University of Missouri Extension complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you have a disability and need accommodations in connection with participation in an educational program or you need materials in an alternate format, please notify your instructor as soon as possible so that necessary arrangements can be made.
Cancellations and Refund Requests
Access MU Extension’s Course Cancellation and Refund Policy for details.