With the dry weather crop plans for 2012 may change, and while we may be at the mercy of Mother Nature, now is the time to plan ahead and improve the odds for better crops next year and years to come.

Adopting a no till and cover crop program can greatly improve soil health which dramatically increases water infiltration and holds nutrients at the root level for crop use.

The benefits of no till are well documented; decreased fuel consumption, erosion reduction, soil improvement and better pest control. However, the rate of positive change to soil health by no till alone is slow and can take a decade or better to see measurable improvements.

Healthy soil is defined as the ability to support an ecosystem in its given environment. So what does this mean for a crop field?

A forest ecosystem is the pinnacle of healthy soil, with diversity in plant composition and a decrease in pest populations, significant water infiltration and little to any erosion and runoff. Soils in a wooded environment have excellent soil structure from years of no disturbance, organic matter above 10 percent and diverse biological activity.

The adoption of no till is vital in mimicking this environment in a crop field, but planting a monoculture that grows about six months a year really won't improve much.

Adding cover crops takes soil health to a new level, but just planting another monoculture as won't be as effective as developing a diverse cover crop mix.

Cover crop cocktails typically are comprised of three or more species; the more variety added to the mix, the better the results.

According to the Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education program, there are many categories to research when developing a mix: the nitrogen scavenging ability, the ability of the plant to find and hold excess nitrogen, soil building, the ability to add organic matter and improve soil structure, erosion fighter, weed fighter, good grazing, quick growth and legume nitrogen source .

These categories can be addressed to create a mix that will maximize individual goals, and depending on the crop rotation, the right mix can supply enough nitrogen to feed the following year's crop.

The key to these mixes is giving them the ability to maximize their yield, and to do so, they need to be planted late summer to early fall, so they are best following wheat or oats.

There are also mixes that can be planted following corn or beans, typically a cereal grain, although there are some legumes that can still be added but the nitrogen fixation will be lowered.

In the end, adjusting crop rotations to plant these mixes greatly increases organic matter, improves soil structure, provides better water and air infiltration, which helps warm the soil in the spring and helps break down plant residue.

All this gives a winning combination that increases profitability and yields.

SARE has several books available for purchase and download from www.sare.org. The publication “Managing Cover Crops Profitably” is an excellent resource that examines many cover crops and can be used to create a mix.

Andy Gaver is a conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Butler County.