Introduction - Cover Crop Conundrum

By Jill Sackett Eberhart

Edited by Steve Simmons, Kristine Moncada, Craig Sheaffer, Gigi DiGiacomo and Nicole Tautges

Corn seed missing.

“We’ve got a problem, Dirk,” stated farm hand Al Detert. “The corn in the south field is just not germinating. In some spots, not only is the plant not there, but I can’t find the seed, either. That field has been a pain all spring. First it was the cover crop not dying and now the corn’s not growing. What are we going to do?”

Follow along as Dirk faces many trials when he incorporates cover crops into his newly transitioned organic farm.  Do you think he should continue to use cover crops?  What are his other options?

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You may cite this publication as:

Eberhart, J.  2017.  Cover Crop Conundrum.  A Decision Case Study in Principles for Transitioning to Organic Farming: e-Learning Materials and Decision Case Studies for Educators.  S. Simmons, K. Moncada, C. Sheaffer, G. DiGiacomo, and N. Tautges (Eds). University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.