There’s plenty of green around St. Patrick’s Day – mint-green milkshakes, green-clad leprechauns, and lots of shamrocks mark the arrival of the Irish holiday.
The three-leaf clover, called shamrock, has long been a symbol of Saint Patrick’s Day associated with the patron saint of Ireland.
AND four-leaf clover it was considered lucky because it is sporadic to find – only one in 10,000 clovers has an extra leaf. Old legends say that a four-leaf clover provides magical protection and wards off bad luck.
Similarly, farmers sow clover as a groundcover for soil protection and weed control.
Cover crops are plants used to leisurely erosion, improve soil health, raise water availability and control weeds, pests and diseases while building soil biodiversity. Planting cover crops provides fuel to the soil during the dormant periods between fall harvest and spring planting.
It’s not just luck that makes clover one of the most widely used ground cover crops.
Planting clover as a cover crop has many benefits. It is a versatile plant that will grow in a variety of soil conditions and environments.
In addition to preventing soil erosion by holding soil and water in place, clover naturally produces nitrogen.
Nitrogen is an crucial nutrient necessary for growing corn. Planting clover as a cover crop in the fall before planting corn in the spring prepares the soil to grow a robust crop.
Clover attracts beneficial insects to the field. It is an excellent food source for pollinators and helps build biodiversity in farmlands. It can also support control weeds.
Finally, clover can even be used to feed cattle.
Maximizing soil cover by planting cover crops is just one of five tips soil health principles that support farmers improve soil health and protect water quality.
Farmers don’t just trust their luck when it comes to protecting the environment; They work closely with experts and researchers to identify the best tools that can be applied to their farm to achieve their goals. They also network with other farmers in the area to learn and share their experiences.
The color green suggests that Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations are approaching. With the advent of mint shakes and shamrocks, farmlands are starting to turn green with crops that contribute to a safe and sound and sustainable food supply.
