Farmers are seeking answers to their crop concerns as a response to abnormal weather conditions in May and June. In the Midwest, flooding has created difficult conditions for soybean planting, and now the final planting dates have ended. 

When conditions prevent farmers from planting soybeans, they can utilize Risk Management Association (RMA) and National Resources Conservation Services’ (NRCS) Prevented Planting insurance program to plant cover crop mixes. Cover crops have the ability to solve problems for farmers in terms of weed control, nitrogen fixation, and overall soil health.

Flooding can cause nitrogen leaching or volatilization (microbe conversion) in the soil. One option to combat unfavorable conditions would be to plant FIXatioN balansa clover, a product from Grassland Oregon. FIXatioN will not only grow in water-logged soils, it is a Bio-Massive™ and hardy cover crop that can, in the right conditions, fix up to 200 pounds of nitrogen per acre. FIXatioN’s roots break up compacted soils, fix nitrogen and prepare the soil for the next year’s crop.

FIXatioN is a cost effective option for including in a mix when compared to other cover crop options. It can be seeded at a rate of 3-5 pounds per acre in a mix, whereas cereal rye requires up to 50 pounds, triticale requires up to 80 pounds, and crimson clover requires up to 15 pounds. To get the most out of their Prevented Planting cover crop mix, farmers will quickly see a return on their investment from FIXatioN’s nitrogen fixing capabilities and low seeding rate.

About The Product

FIXatioN balansa clover (Trifolium michelianum) is a cool season annual legume that can fix up to 200 pounds of nitrogen per acre while suppressing weeds. FIXatioN can grow stems up to 8 feet long with over 30 blossoms per stem. FIXatioN is well suited for wildlife forage, attracts pollinators and breaks up soil compactions.

About Grassland Oregon Inc.

Grassland Oregon is an Oregon-based company with a research farm in Richland, Iowa. It is a leader in the development and marketing of science-based cover crop, turf, and forage seeds. With research locations across North America and exclusive global partnerships, Grassland Oregon develops products that deliver novel solutions for growing concerns.