By Darren Hefty

One of the hottest topics in agriculture across the country right now is cover crops.  Brian and I get all kinds of questions on this subject.  In fact, Case IH did a survey last winter about what new practices farmers would be interested in trying on their farm.  The #1 answer was cover crops.

WHY COVER CROPS?

The potential benefits of using a cover crop on your farm are well documented.  They include, but are not limited to:

  • Moisture Control – Remove Excess Moisture or Preserve What is There
  • Reduce Soil Erosion
  • Maintain and Improve Soil Microbial Life
  • Improve Nutrient Availability
  • Break Up Compaction
  • Potential Forage Source

HOW MUCH TIME DO THEY TAKE TO BE EFFECTIVE?

The time needed to get the maximum benefit out of a cover crop really varies based on the species of plants you are utilizing.  With most cover crop blends, the standard recommendation is you would like to see 60 days of growth before the first hard, killing frost.  That puts the optimum planting window (depending on where you are at in the country) in the August-September timeframe.  If you’re taking a wheat crop off in July, you have ample time to come back and plant a cover crop.  If you have a soybean or corn crop that won’t be harvested until late September or October, you may not have enough time unless you have your cover crop aerially seeded pre-harvest.

WHICH COVER CROPS WORK BEST?

You most likely will be able to accomplish more of the benefits listed above by using a blend of cover crops rather than one single species of plant.  For a list of many of the more popular ones and all their specific benefits, check out www.agphd.com/resources/cover-crops-and-their-uses/.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Will carryover from any previous herbicides hurt my cover crop?  Check with your agronomist to address your specific concerns; but yes, this could happen.
  • Cost?  Most blends are in the $10 to $20 per acre range.
  • What is the best way to seed them? If you drill them in, you get the quickest crop canopy and best seed to soil contact.  Broadcasting can work, too, but actually planting those seeds in the ground is always a better choice if it’s possible.
  • Will cover crops hurt or improve my next crop?  Typically we’d expect to see a yield boost in next year’s crop by utilizing a cover crop this year.  There are no guarantees here, but there is a lot of yield data out there to support the theory of yield gain.
  • What about weed control?  This is always a question when you are seeding a blended crop.  Check with your agronomist before seeding to make a good decision on which blend is right for you and what herbicide options will be available.  Always start with a weed-free field to minimize potential problems.  Also, be sure to consider how you might control any volunteer plants next year.

Cover crops are growing in popularity across the country.  They serve a number of purposes, including protecting and improving your soils, so this is definitely something for you to consider adopting in your operation.