The Grower Division at Lessiter Media (which publishes Farm Equipment and several other dealer and conservation agricultural publications) has announced the release of an online “summit” on cover crops that both farmers and their dealers can attend to learn about the growing practice at no cost.

Following a 47% increase in cropland planted to cover crops (USDA Census), the Grower Division at Lessiter Media (including No-Till Farmer, Strip-Till Farmer, Farm Innovations and Cover Crop Strategies) hosted the first-ever “virtual” summit on cover crops, the National Cover Crop Summit, last March. Five of the six Title Sponsors supporting this first-ever online event were equipment companies.

“The initial event surpassed all expectations for registrants,” says Mike Lessiter, president of Lessiter Media. Based on the ongoing requests to provide additional access to the 10-plus presentations delivered via a proven technology platform, the editors of Cover Crop Strategies are re-booting this FREE Cover Crop Summit in advance of the fall seeding season. The Summit will be held August 14–16, 2019. During these three days, all the presentations from this past March's Summit, which earned a 99% satisfaction rating, will be made available, along with an additional presentation.

Farm Equipment also learned how agencies and agribusinesses leveraged the inaugural Summit at their locations, according to Lessiter.

Last March, several companies held a group “watching session” for the cover crop presentations. Groups brought farm customers and other influencers together into a conference room to watch the presentation videos together on the big screen and to discuss observations and realities in local conditions. One group shared that they’d brought in the farmers who were most experienced with cover crops to personally share their knowledge with other farmers between the presentations.

The Audience Development Team at Lessiter Media is passing on this idea as interest in cover crops continues to grow at a lightning-fast pace. Several dealers have agreed that it’s a unique opportunity to buy a few lunches and provide the value of learning and community to get farmers in your conference room (and dealership).

For any group that would to participate, contact Dallas Ziebell, dziebell@lessitermedia.com, for promotional support in the way of fliers, social media content, etc. There’s no charge for dealership staff or customers to attend this event: anyone can simply register online with your email here and you’ll be able to view the video presentations FREE at any time, in any order you choose, during the three day period — August 14–16. If you hold a “group watch” or a “lunch and learn,” send a photo and description and we’ll share it through our social media channels.

More information about the event is available here.