Extension Publications

Overview

2026 is looking like a good year for perennial groundcover research! RegenPGC isn’t just a research project; we’re dedicated to sharing our discoveries with the agricultural community and anyone else who’s interested.

As we explore how to establish and maintain perennial groundcovers in corn and soybean fields, we’re excited to share our progress with anyone curious about how these groundcovers can help maintain a living, perennial vegetation layer within an annual cash crop system.

We want to share our findings with farmers, crop advisors, technical service providers, and government agencies (NRCS/DNR) who are eager to see what’s possible and what might be tricky about incorporating perennial groundcovers into row-crop farming practices. We hope you’ll pass along these publications to anyone who might find them useful.

Recent Publications

Hayslett, Maya C., Peterson, Sydney, &Najam, Rao. (2026). Where the Grass is Greener Series [Lesson Plans]. Iowa State University Extension & Outreach. 4H 2241C. Available online: https://shop.iastate.edu/extension/4-h/4-h/4-h-crops/4h2241.html.

- Good Bugs: Groundcover, and Beneficial Insects (4th & 5th Grades)
- Good Bugs: Groundcover, and Beneficial Insects (Middle School)
- Runoff and Infiltration (6th -12th Grades)
- Soil is Alive: Soil Microbes and Health
- Plant Competition and Cropping Systems
Jezus, Gabriel, Schlautman, Brandon, Kocak, Kyle, & Raman, Raj, D. (2026). Environmental constraints, spring suppression, and perennial ground cover systems: a 25-year analysis of spreadable hours for glufosinate, sawlufenacil, and paraquat across the U.S. cornbelt [Fact sheet]. https://www.regenpgc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/fact_sheet_revised_June19.pdf.

Recent Publications

Hayslett, Maya C., Peterson, Sydney, &Najam, Rao. (2026). Where the Grass is Greener Series. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. 4H 2241C. Available online: https://shop.iastate.edu/extension/4-h/4-h/4-h-crops/4h2241.html.
Jezus, Gabriel, Schlautman, Brandon, Kocak, Kyle, & Raman, Raj, D. (2026). Environmental constraints, spring suppression, and perennial ground cover systems: a 25-year analysis of spreadable hours for glufosinate, sawlufenacil, and paraquat across the U.S. cornbelt [Fact sheet]. https://www.regenpgc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/fact_sheet_revised_June19.pdf.

2025

Bartel, Cynthia. (2025, February 11). Field Notes: Perennial groundcover: A missing piece in the USDA farm bill puzzle. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 5. Quantifying and Valorizing Ecosystem Service Benefits for Perennial Groundcover in Corn & Soybean Production, Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.box.com/s/gnvea9xsvet9o17wq6rf4024g49c56cg. (See accompanying Video & Presentation).*
McDaniel, Marshall. (2025, February 11). Field Notes: Soil moisture & nitrogen competition in perennial ground cover systems. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 5. Quantifying and Valorizing Ecosystem Service Benefits for Perennial Groundcover in Corn & Soybean Production, Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.box.com/s/9ny6zcynelahryb45xwvqcepyx1v4p3e. (See accompanying Video & Presentation).*
Oluwatuyi, Olowoyeye. (2025, February 11). Field Notes: PGC impacts on runoff & soil erosion in corn & soybean production. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 5. Quantifying and Valorizing Ecosystem Service Benefits for Perennial Groundcover in Corn & Soybean Production, Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.box.com/s/vxw1pvwmljmzopbekrcvznss3673ag34. (See accompanying Video & Presentation).*
Rockson, Philip. (2025, February 11). Field Notes: PGC impacts on runoff & soil erosion in corn & soybean production. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 5. Quantifying and Valorizing Ecosystem Service Benefits for Perennial Groundcover in Corn & Soybean Production, Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.box.com/s/muu0ah82x5v6csa2rw768i1l24l4g4fy. (See accompanying Video & Presentation).*
Lira, Sara. (2025, February 4). Field Notes: Selecting commercial corn hybrids for use in well-managed PGC systems. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 4. Corn Hybrid Performance within Perennial Groundcover Systems, Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.box.com/s/rrr49zptsyd4ftc997wqdhsyiyhkecw0. (See accompanying Video & Presentation).*
Lübberstedt, Thomas & Bilgici, Memiş. (2025, February 4). Field Notes: Should we breed corn for use in perennial ground cover production systems? 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 4. Corn Hybrid Performance within Perennial Groundcover Systems, Ames, IA, United States. (See accompanying Video & Presentation).*
Raman, D. Raj. (2025, February 4). Field Notes: Taxonomy of perennial groundcover production systems: Breeding to manage brittleness. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 4. Corn Hybrid Performance within Perennial Groundcover Systems, Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.box.com/s/aku08r0t8ens3i20pl9clk324g8zsfwf. (See accompanying Video & Presentation).*
Fei, Shui-zhang. (2025, January 28). Field Notes: Perennial Groundcovers – Designing options that work. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 3. Selecting Perennial Groundcovers for Corn & Soybean Production Systems & Their Ideal Characteristics, Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.box.com/s/v99gvyopnbsi0mt33dr3vkvmep1i6u48. (See accompanying Video & Presentation).*
Galland, Patrick. (2025, January 28). Field Notes: Evaluating unsuppressed groundcover systems. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 3. Selecting Perennial Groundcovers for Corn & Soybean Production Systems & Their Ideal Characteristics, Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.box.com/s/9t24vxduixjqb6lq8dfo718xxb7xiayb. [See accompanying Video & Presentation].*
Moran, Jack. (2025, January 28). Field Notes: Improving groundcover establishment with nurse crops, seeding rates, and hydrophilic coating. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 3. Selecting Perennial Groundcovers for Corn & Soybean Production Systems & Their Ideal Characteristics, Ames, IA, United States. Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.box.com/s/zc592vfgvsg7djxpwyjtr3bdtfpfi611. (See accompanying Presentation & Video).*
Schlautman, Brandon. (2025, January 28). The role of on-farm trials in advancing perennial ground cover systems. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 3. Selecting Perennial Groundcovers for Corn & Soybean Production Systems & Their Ideal Characteristics, Ames, IA, United States. Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.box.com/s/qap2xz8yhav09zurit2esw3t73xc07a4. (See accompanying Presentation & Video).*
Haramoto, Erin & Searcy, Kiera. (2025, January 21). Field Notes: Chemical weed control options in perennial groundcover production systems. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 2. Perennial Ground Cover Suppression & Weed Management within Corn & Soybean Production Systems, Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.app.box.com/file/1752511662346?s=l5kbkp5vft2h25rcmv8dg1zkri7e23jx. [See accompanying Video & Presentation].*
Wilson, Brent. (2025, January 21). Field Notes: Maintaining a crop growth zone in perennial ground cover (PGC) systems. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 2. Perennial Ground Cover Suppression & Weed Management within Corn & Soybean Production Systems, Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.app.box.com/file/1752514019636?s=0tjfrm4rax5imc6krb2tqxd5nufak47z. [See accompanying Video & Presentation].*
Moro, Amina. (2025, January 21). Field Notes: Crop growth zone requirements in perennial groundcover corn systems. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 2. Perennial Ground Cover Suppression & Weed Management within Corn & Soybean Production Systems, Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.app.box.com/file/1749732688774?s=itj4y44whhk3j013agyyif8prueqec7l. [See accompanying Video & Presentation].*
Bartel, Cynthia. (2025, January 14). Field Notes: Perennial groundcover: Merging conservation with high-yield row crop production. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 1. Perennial Ground Cover Integration into Corn & Soybean Production Systems, Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.box.com/s/8t7f51bfyvlqnvabjua1qarrr5i2t067. [See accompanying Video & Presentation].*
Moore, Ken & Hinz, Roger. (2025, January 14). Field Notes: Getting started with perennial groundcover (PGC). 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 1. Perennial Ground Cover Integration into Corn & Soybean Production Systems, Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.app.box.com/file/1731007451085?s=k1g4vhew7o85sm7sk012d7vb2q3nbhtp. [See accompanying Presentation & Video ].*
Raman, Raj. (2025, January 14). Field Notes: Perennial groundcover integration into corn and soybean production: Potential & scalability. https://iastate.box.com/s/fij94zkojl6kpaofkmepdk66cpzb0ij3. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 1. Perennial Ground Cover Integration into Corn & Soybean Production Systems, Ames, IA, United States. [See accompanying Video & Presentation].*
Rockson, Philip. (2025, January 14). Field Notes: Time and labor demands in PGC corn and soybean production. 2025 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Week 1. Perennial Ground Cover Integration into Corn & Soybean Production Systems, Ames, IA, United States. https://iastate.box.com/s/1snhi10o6l4hzyse84p9db4trohl3y2d. [See accompanying Video & Presentation].*

2022

Dougherty, Brian, Myers, Gabrielle, Pederson, Carl, Andersen, Daniel S., Helmers, Matt, J., Raman, D.Raj, & Moore, Kenneth J. (2022). Effect of Annual and Perennial Cover Crops and Manure Application Timing on Yields. Iowa State University Research & Demonstration Farms Progress Reports, 2021(1), 45–46.

*These Field Notes are part of the 2025 RegenPGC Lunch & Learn Webinar Series, Unlocking the Potential of Perennial Groundcovers in Corn and Corn/Soybean Production Systems, a five-week series that ran from January 14 – February 11, 2025, designed to explore the innovative use of perennial groundcovers in corn and corn/soybean production systems as a cover crop.