Sustainable Agriculture
Growing agronomic crops sustainably means using methods that have a minimal effect on the environment, and finding a good balance between the need for food production and the preservation of the ecological system within the environment. Find information on sustainable agriculture of agronomic crops, including crop rotation and conservation tillage, soil health and conservation practices, extending the grazing season and interseeding.
Crop Planning in Sustainable Agriculture
Crop planning is essential for any agronomic producers. Optimizing agronomic crop production while also minimizing the effect of production methods on the environment requires careful planning. Penn State Extension’s Farming for Success workshops feature a wide range of crop production topics. These include disease, weed, and insect management, nutrient management, crops management, and alternative crops.
No-Till/Conservation Tillage for Agronomic Crops
No-till and conservation tillage are both production methods that are a fundamental part of sustainable agronomic crop production. They both provide several benefits such as soil conservation, reductions in crop establishment time and energy use, improved water retention, retention of soil organic matter, and improvement of soil quality at the soil surface.
Crop Rotation, Double Cropping, and Cover Crops
It’s possible to enhance many of the benefits of no-till and conservation tillage by planting cover crops, adopting crop rotation, and double cropping. However, complications can arise when trying to integrate all these systems. Three years of research by Penn State experts has provided answers to many of the pain points associated with sustainable agronomic production practices, such as planting green with corn and soybeans.
Crop rotation increases yields because they help to improve soil conditions and reduce weed and insect populations. A crop rotation system can also help producers successfully adopt conservation tillage.
Soil Health and Conservation Practices
Improving soil health is crucial for maximum agronomic crop yields. Soil compaction, in particular, can negatively affect soil productivity and environmental quality. It’s an issue that can be reduced or avoided by following sustainable agricultural practices such as no-till and conservation tillage.
Soil health also has an important part to play in water hydrology. If soil is compacted, for example, it can lead to compaction infiltration. This is one topic that’s covered in the Penn State Extension Agronomy Now: Soil Sampling, Compaction, and Water Hydrology workshop. More resources on soil fertility and health are available in the dedicated section.
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NewsAlfalfa Weevil Larvae Are Becoming Active in Alfalfa Fields
Date Posted 4/1/2025Alfalfa weevil larvae are becoming active, particularly in southern counties and south-facing fields. Scout your fields to detect their damage. -
ArticlesRiparian Buffers for Field Crops, Hay, and Pastures
Riparian buffers serve to protect our waterways and, in our field crops and pastures, can help to prevent erosion while intercepting sediment that carries nutrients and pollutants. -
NewsEmbrace the Cold: It is Likely to Restrict Some Pest Species Populations
Date Posted 1/7/2025Cold temperatures can knock back some pest species, including slugs, but outcomes can be hard to predict. -
Guides and PublicationsStarting at $5.00
2024 Agronomy Research Report
A research report highlighting the results of new, continuing, and completed agronomic projects conducted by Penn State investigators and their collaborators in 2024. -
NewsExploring Emerging and Advanced Technology in Agriculture
Date Posted 8/6/2024Penn State Extension's Emerging and Advanced Technology Interest Group is seeking collaboration with farmers interested in agricultural technology and learning about opportunities to participate in applied research. -
NewsScout for Western Bean Cutworm in Corn Fields
Date Posted 7/22/2024Western bean cutworm moths are active; scout your corn fields to understand the threat that the caterpillars of this species pose. -
NewsIn Northern Pennsylvania, it is Time to Scout for Black Cutworm Damage in Corn
Date Posted 6/4/2024In Potter and other counties in northern Pennsylvania, now is the time to begin scouting for black cutworm damage in corn fields. -
NewsScout for Cereal Leaf Beetle Larvae, But Don't Spray Blindly
Date Posted 5/28/2024Cereal leaf beetle larvae are active. Scout your fields to assess their population size; spraying blindly is unlikely to be profitable. -
ArticlesSummer Cover Crop Options
Harvesting crops in summer opens a window for a variety of cover crop species. -
ArticlesPlanting Green 101: Penn State Research Summary
This article explains the "why" and "how" of planting green with corn and soybeans, including practical management recommendations based on results from 3 years of research across 5 locations in Pennsylvania. -
ArticlesHow Choices Made at Planting Impact Barley and Wheat Health
The important work of ensuring disease-free small grains happens before we even put a seed in the ground. -
ArticlesIntensive Grazing Management of Cover Crops for Soil Health
With the new interest in grazing cover crops, are there effects on soil health and compaction? The results of an on-farm Pennsylvania study looking into this are presented here. -
ArticlesOrganic No-till Soybean Production in Pennsylvania: Is It for You?
This two-part guide presents elements of an integrated weed management approach for organic no-till soybean, along with the long-term effects this practice may have on crop rotation. -
VideosBeating the Summer Slump on Dairy Farms with No-Till Annuals
Length 7:11A grazing dairy in southeastern Pennsylvania meets summer forage needs with annual warm season mixtures planted in a continuous no-till system. -
ArticlesCrop Loss and Climate-risk in Pennsylvania
This article seeks to inform Pennsylvania agricultural stakeholders about impacts of weather and climate-related risks during the last 3 decades. -
ArticlesUsing Integrated Pest Management to Balance Soil Health and Insect Management
Research Spotlight. Novel research is exploring how insecticides and fungicides influence soil health. -
ArticlesInsect-Parasitic Nematodes for the Management of Soil-Dwelling Insects
Taking advantage of the natural enemies of insects to help manage insect pests. -
WorkshopsFarming for Success
Length 6 hours, 45 minutesJoin us for an agronomic field day for farmers, industry representatives, and other agricultural professionals and earn CCA, NM, and MHB Credits. -
ArticlesManaging Soil Health: Concepts and Practices
Information for farmers and gardeners who want to understand the physical, chemical, and biological components of healthy soil and how to manage them. -
ArticlesEffects of Soil Compaction
Soil compaction is the reduction of soil volume due to external factors; this reduction lowers soil productivity and environmental quality. -
ArticlesAvoiding Soil Compaction
The increasing size of farm equipment may cause significant soil compaction that can negatively affect soil productivity as well as environmental quality.
