Organic Farming Field Tour: Roller Crimping, Weed Control & Cover Crops
Join Philip Schuchardt for a field tour of his family's organic farm near Elgin, Nebraska, recorded on August 7, 2026. Philip shares firsthand experiences with organic corn and soybean production, focusing on innovative approaches to weed management, soil health, and reducing tillage.
The tour explores the use of roller crimping and cereal rye cover crops as alternatives to traditional cultivation, highlighting both successes and challenges encountered in the field.
Topics covered include:
Roller crimping cereal rye for weed suppression in organic soybeans
Comparing roller-crimped and mechanically cultivated soybean fields
Planting soybeans into standing rye and managing crop residue
Roller crimping timing, equipment, and techniques
Soybean seeding rates, germination, and planting challenges
Organic corn production, nitrogen management, and crop rotation
Building soil health through cover crops and reduced tillage
Lessons learned from on-farm experimentation
Throughout the tour, Philip discusses practical observations, equipment modifications, and ongoing experiments to improve organic crop production while minimizing soil disturbance. This field tour offers valuable insights for organic farmers, transitioning producers, and anyone interested in regenerative agriculture, cover cropping, and sustainable farming practices.
Funding for this video was provided by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). Produced by the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA), Nebraska.
