Image
Dubuque Batch and Build Drone Cover Crops
Drone-seeding is a new approach to increase cover crop adoption in regions with shortened cropping seasons and limited windows of opportunity for planting and establishment. Through a recent NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program award, Sand County Foundation and Dubuque County Watersheds are delivering a "batch and build" style cover crop incentive in Dubuque County, Iowa. Each farmer chooses one of four seed mixes, and Sand County Foundation purchases seed and hires drone operators to serve all farmers through a single contract. This approach streamlines coordination and increases cost-effectiveness while eliminating farmer hassle.
Active
Innovation
Engagement Targets
Notes: (1) Minor fluctuations in the number of retained growers is expected from year to year. These fluctuations may be due to year-over-year crop rotation effects or other factors beyond the control of the project. Enrolled acres represent the total number of acres on an individual farm in a specific year. The ability to report enrolled acres is based on the Fieldprint Project Standard requirement that individual growers enrolled in projects enter at least 10% of the acres managed for a specific crop. (2) Entered acres represent the actual number of enrolled acres for which data is entered in the Fieldprint Platform for analysis.
Objectives
Increase cover crop adoption in Dubuque County.
Encourage 30 growers to try cover crops for the first time.
In 2024, 26 of 75 growers had not tried cover crops before.
Improve soil health and biodiversity from cover crops.
Encourage 60 growers to increase their cover crop impact by planting a diverse mixture.
In 2024, 41 of 49 growers who had planted cover crops before upgraded the diversity of the planted cover crops to a mixture.
Establish a long-term cover crop program in Dubuque County.
Develop a framework for the county to continue this program after funding ends.
In 2024, we promoted connections among drone operators, cover crop seed dealers, and farmers to ensure that a future cover crop program could operate independently of our facilitation.
Participants
Project Lead Organization
Sand County FoundationFull
Project Partner
Dubuque County Soil and Water Conservation DistrictFull
Project Details
Status
Active
Pathway
Innovation
Primary Crops
Corn (grain)
Corn (silage)
Soybeans
Natural Resource Concern
Counties the project is located in: