Weather always plays a vital role in production agriculture. In 2019 we have seen unprecedented amounts of rain which has left the Midwest mostly unplanted, whether it is corn, soybeans, or forage crops.
With the late planting dates, some farms may opt to take the Preventive Planting route. These unplanted acres are a great place to put out cover crops to improve the soils, both short and long term.
Read MoreRecent data just released by the Indiana State Seed Lab reveals a high discrepancy between seed samples involving both germination rates and percentage of weed seed.
Read MoreCover crops can be a very effective tool for building soil health, weed control, and forage. However, establishment can be tricky in Michigan due to climate and other factors. One solution is to establish cover crops early through INTERSEEDING. Attend this free educational field day to learn about the equipment, methods, and programs available to help you get started!
Location & Time
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 (9:00 am - 2 pm) at Grandpa Tiny’s Farm
7775 Weiss Street / Frankenmuth, MI 48734
To see the flyer and learn more about this opportunity, click here.
I visited with a producer in Northeast Indiana that is in year 2 of interseeding cereal rye into his corn while he is applying liquid 28% nitrogen.
Read Moreby Jeremy Sweeten
Cover crops are known for producing and releasing nitrogen when terminated.
Below is a link to an article on research done in southern Illinois comparing the quantity and release timing of hairy vetch (a nitrogen producer) and cereal rye (a nitrogen scavenger). As a cover crop seed purchaser, it is important to know how to maximize the benefit of cover crops for the row crops.
Nitrogen is one the most expensive inputs for corn. If you are not doing so, consider letting cover crops provide some of the nitrogen for you.
Click here to read the full article.
One other very significant benefit you get from your cover crop is that of soil structure. In the video below, Abbey Wick from NDSU Extension Service demonstrates the benefit of cover crops (and their residue) on handling traffic in your field. The difference between cover crop soils and non-cover crop soils is astounding.