Last week, Environmental Defense Fund shared the results in a new summary report that reveals when cover crops
pay, how cost-share programs influence profitability, and what trends emerged across corn and soybean systems from 2022 to 2024. Read the full report here.
Over the past three years, 41 Minnesota farms have consistently contributed detailed financial data on cover crop use across 106 fields. This multi-year dataset offers valuable insights into the financial performance of different cover crop types and management strategies.
Key takeaways on cover crop profitability:
Cover crop costs had a median of $42 per acre, but ranged substantially depending on type and management.
Most profitable fields combined cost-share payments and harvested cover crops while keeping costs low.
Cost-share programs covered about 50% of costs—but only 1 in 3 farmers received payments.
Cover crops were profitable before corn, but not before soybeans across all three years.
For a deeper dive into the data and what it means for farmers and their partners, check out their blog post.
Minnesota's Paid Family Medical Leave updates and reminders
Source: Associations North
Minnesota’s Paid Family & Medical Leave program takes effect in 2026, and the time to prepare is now. Delaying could put your organization at risk of costly compliance issues and unnecessary challenges.
Efforts around preventing the spread of New World screwworm (NWS) continue on both sides of the U.S.-Mexican boarder as FDA officials announce conditional approval for a drug to prevent and treat larval infestations from the parasitic pest.
History in the making for the Dairy Calf and Heifer Market
Source: Dairy Herd Management
Five years ago, you could buy three to five springing Holstein heifers for the price of just one today. Top-quality springers in Turlock, Calif., were bringing $1,100 to $1,225 —compared to $3,500 to $4,250 in the past month.
As 2025 has progressed, the use of glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs has jumped. Lighting a booster to the already glowing rocket launch of the use of the drug was the endorsement deal of tennis star and 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams.
Many hands make light work. For Sandhill Dairy, they decided to get creative about how to get those helping hands.
On Sept. 30, 65 people showed up to help Sandhill Dairy cover their silage pile. Members of the Perham High School cross-country team and the Crosspoint Alliance Church youth group, along with several coaches and parents, came together to lend a hand.
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