Cover Crops Gain Ground as Kansas Farmers Focus on Soil Health

A growing number of Kansas farmers are planting cover crops and embracing no-till practices, part of a broader movement to rebuild soil health, reduce erosion, and hold precious moisture in the ground.

Cover crops, planted between cash crops, protect bare soil from the wind that can strip topsoil from the plains, a haunting echo of the Dust Bowl. Advocates say healthier soil holds more water, needs less fertilizer over time, and yields more consistently in dry years.

"Healthy soil is the cheapest insurance policy a farmer can buy," said a producer who has used cover crops for a decade. The transition can be tricky, and results take years, which makes some growers cautious.

Conservation districts and university extension offices are offering workshops and cost-share programs to help more farmers make the switch.