Farmers for Soil Health Partners Gather in Kansas City to Share Cover Crop Expertise and Build Networks

The Soil Health Institute (SHI) and the University of Missouri’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture (CRA) brought together state technical assistance (TAs) providers and program leaders on October 22-23 in Kansas City, Missouri, for the Farmers for Soil Health (FSH) State Partner Education Meeting. The two-day event combined classroom learning, guided discussions and field visits, creating the opportunity for technical advisors to deepen their cover crop knowledge and build connections with peers across states.

What is Farmers for Soil Health?

Farmers for Soil Health is a program designed to support farmers in adopting cover crop practices through financial incentives, technical assistance, and educational resources.

Cover Crop Returns Look Different on Every Farm

Day 1 presentations tackled a common question farmers have: Do cover crops pay?  One theme stood out from cover crop economics and profitability discussions: some producers see immediate returns, particularly due to reduced input costs, while others realize increased benefits from cover crop use over multiple years of experience.

Perhaps the most important takeaway from the meeting was the emphasis on customization. “We can’t say ‘just use cereal rye’ or ‘don’t use herbicides’ — that will not work for everyone,” one presenter stressed. Success with cover crops depends on your specific field conditions, the year’s weather patterns, your operation’s goals, and countless other variables.

Breakout discussions gave state technical advisors time to dive deeper into cover crop species selection and seeding strategies, sharing what’s working in their regions and troubleshooting common challenges. These conversations reinforced that while research provides valuable guidelines, on-farm experience and local expertise are irreplaceable.