Time is running out to act on your cover crops
By the time you are reading this, it’ll be “go time” for cover crops. Our agronomy team has compiled some resources and suggestions to share with you as we look towards harvest. We also want to address some specific concerns below that we’ve heard from producers over the last few months:
Availability of cereal rye seed
This has been a huge concern that we’ve heard from a lot of you but the good news is that there are some great alternative winter grains that can be used if cost or accessibility become a problem when it comes to cereal rye seed.
Winter wheat, for example, might be more accessible and affordable. Winter wheat is also extremely cold-hardy but you may not see as much biomass out of wheat due to genetics so that is something to be aware of. Winter barley and triticale are both great substitutes for cereal rye seed as well.
Note: It may be tempting to use a neighbor’s bin run cereal rye but it is important to note that there is no way to certify how clean that seed is and there is potential to bring in a large population of weed seeds. There is also no way to know the germination rate and seeding rates may have to be adjusted.
Here are some resources that explore all the pros and cons of cover crop species:
- Midwest Cover Crops Council - Cover Crop Decision Tool
- Northeast Cover Crops Council - Cover Crop Decision Support Tools
- Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education - Managing Cover Crops Profitably
Dry weather affecting cover crop seeding conditions
Dry weather has become an increasing concern, especially for those who typically broadcast their cover crop seed. There are, however, a few alternative options you can consider in dry conditions:
- Drill your cover crop seed.
- This will allow you to get the best seed-to-soil contact without making a tillage pass.
- Incorporate your cover crop seed with a vertical tillage tool (or something similar)
- Note: You will have to record that tillage change in your Cargill RegenConnect account during data collection which may affect payment. Refer to the chart below.)
- Broadcast your cover crop seed and hope for moisture over the winter season.
- A cover crop like cereal rye will still germinate and grow in the spring.
Late cover crop seeding
If harvest gets late, your only option available for cover crop seed may be cereal rye. There are not many other cover crops that will still germinate when the temperature is low.
- You may need to increase your seeding rate to adjust for less germination.
- Remember that if you are working with a CSP contract, you will need to follow their guidelines for application timing, species, and rate.
- If you are unsure of what to do, you can always reach out to your agronomist to build a new game plan.
If you're looking for more information or resources on cover crops, you can check out some of our previous articles below:
Know how to select the right cover crop species for you
Looking to get more growth out of your cover crop? Try interseeding
Cover crops: How you can use covers as a week management tool
Best practices for terminating your cover crops this spring
You can also watch our Soil Health video series with American Farmland Trust
If you're looking for additional support in your cover crop plan, please reach out to your Cargill RegenConnect Agronomist:
