By Scout Nelson
A Cover Crop Field Day will take place on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, near Bladen, Nebraska, to help farmers and agricultural professionals improve their knowledge of cover crops and soil health.
The training is organized through a partnership between Nebraska Extension, Green Cover, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Midwest Cover Crops Council. The event is designed mainly for field professionals who work with farmers, but anyone interested in cover crops is welcome to attend.
The field day runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Green Cover Farm. Attendance is free, and lunch will be provided. Organizers encourage participants to register by Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, because attendance is limited to 50 people.
The program begins with an overview of Green Cover’s demonstration plots presented by Keith Berns, co-owner of Green Cover. Participants will then rotate through several outdoor learning stations focused on important cover crop management topics.
Training sessions include cover crop identification, selecting the right crop mixes, soil health assessments, conservation planning, and practical management techniques. Katja Koehler-Cole, Nebraska Extension statewide soil health educator, will lead discussions on cover crop species selection and mix design. Carlos Villarreal, USDA NRCS Nebraska state soil scientist, will demonstrate soil health management and field evaluation methods. Corey Brubaker, USDA NRCS Nebraska state conservation agronomist, will explain cover crop planning and management practices.
After lunch, Brubaker will present an overview of the NRCS Cover Crop Standard (340) and discuss program requirements that support conservation efforts. Additional rotating field sessions will continue during the afternoon before the event concludes with a final review.
Participants can also earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for certified crop advisors.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-sasiistock
Categories: Nebraska, Crops, Sustainable Agriculture