Protecting crops against weeds can feel like a constant battle. What if you could enlist a new recruit that suppresses weeds and provides a wealth of soil health benefits? 

“Cover crops like rye on acres being planted to soybeans can help control weeds,” said Sarah Carlson, strategic initiatives director for Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI). “This is one of the greatest opportunities for cover crops in Iowa, since soybeans are planted on 10 million acres in this state.”

While it can be tricky to use cover crops on acres being rotated from soybeans into corn, it’s easier to use cover crops on acres being rotated from corn to soybeans, Carlson added....