Plant Cover Crops

Learning about the benefits of planting cover crops.

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Prevented Planting Row Crop Acres – Which Cover Crops Can Help?

The following was originally posted on May 27, 2011 when the Eastern Corn Belt was suffering with severe flooding and wet conditions.  In 2013 the Upper Midwest – especially Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin – is flooded and wet.  Many farmers are considering taking the crop insurance for prevented planting.  Even if it would stop raining – which does not appear will happen anytime soon – many farmers will not be in their fields for two weeks.  While locations are different, the recommendations below still apply.  Please keep the farmers in the Upper Midwest in your prayers; they need it!

For other options that might include growing cover crops for forages click here.

More rain tonight on already flooded fields create a tough situation for many Midwestern farmers.
More rain tonight on already flooded fields create a tough situation for many Midwestern farmers.

In 2010 there were wet spots in fields that were never planted,  so some ingenious farmers planted cover crops in those spots after they dried out.  Now in 2011 there are several entire fields that may not be planted to cash crops at all.  I have heard from two friends in Ohio that are working on plans to help northwest Ohio farmers know what to use on their prevented acres.

Maybe this is not an issue where you live.  I hope you never have to face a spring like this year in the Eastern Corn Belt, where many producers in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan are struggling to get their crops in the ground.  The forecast is for many more days of rain to finish out the month of May.

For wet spots in fields there are many good options like these cover crop radishes that were planted later in the season in a field of sweet corn.

For prevented planting the cover crops may not be harvested until after November 1st.

So what are the options for planting cover crops in the prevented planted fields?  Below I will list the options with a few of their benefits and also some disadvantages.

Oats

Advantages

  1. Provides erosion control
  2. Scavenges nitrogen
  3. Grows a deep and fibrous root mass
  4. Promotes mycorrhiza growth
  5. Quick to establish
  6. Relatively inexpensive
  7. Can be broadcast and lightly tilled in
  8. Can be added to other cover crops to add additional value
  9. Can spray with broadleaf herbicides if necessary to control weeds

Disadvantages

  1. While they provide cover and decent root growth they do not provide additional nitrogen to the soil (at the most it would be very minimal)
  2. Best to use seed oats vs. bin run oats for optimum value
  3. If planting wheat after oats there may be some “grass after grass” issues (I’m not confident this will be a problem and would welcome comments)

 

Field Peas or Austrian Winter Peas

Austrian Winter Peas and cover crop radishes were planted into prevented planting acres in Michigan in 2010. These peas were producing nitrogen for the 2011 crop while fields that were sprayed or tilled for weed control had no such benefit.

Advantages

  1. Can provide 60-120 # nitrogen/acre (excellent if following with wheat in the fall)
  2. Can be broadcast and lightly tilled in (1″ or deeper)
  3. Can be added to other cover crops to add additional value (add to oats)
  4. Can spray with broadleaf herbicides if necessary to control weeds

Disadvantages

  1. Slower to establish than oats
  2. More costly than straight oats
  3. Seed MUST be inoculated at the time of planting

 

Crimson Clover

Advantages

  1. Can produce up to 150# N/acre within 100 days (great option if following with fall planted wheat or Winter Barley)
  2. Fairly quick to establish
  3. Relatively inexpensive
  4. Can be broadcast and lightly tilled in (1/4-1/2 inch deep)
  5. Can be added to other cover crops to add additional value (add oats at 1 bu/acre)
  6. Can spray with broadleaf herbicides if necessary to control weeds (This article is for seed production in the northwestern part of the USA)

Disadvantages

  1. More costly than straight oats
  2. Slower to establish than straight oats
  3. Seed MUST be inoculated (it may be purchased pre-inoculated)

 

Cowpea

Advantages

  1. Can produce 60-150# nitrogen/acre
  2. Can be broadcast and lightly tilled in (1″ or deeper)
  3. Can be added to other cover crops to add additional value (add to oats)
  4. Can spray with broadleaf herbicides if necessary to control weeds

Disadvantages

  1. Cost and availability of seed
  2. Slower to establish than oats
  3. Seed MUST be inoculated

Other crops to consider: Berseem Clover, Fava Beans, and others.

For further information, please read this excellent article by Barry Fisher, NRCS Agronomist from Indiana, who wrote on this very topic in 2009.

Summer Annual Grasses for Cover Crops for Prevented Planting Acres

With an abundance of prevented planting acres in Wisconsin and Minnesota in 2013, there is a need for cover crops to help build soil during the soil’s “idle” time.  In this post I’ll mainly focus on summer annual grasses that work well in the Midwest.

These recommendations will focus on whether feed is needed or not.  These cannot be harvested until  November 1 if crop insurance is taken.

If producers do not take crop insurance then there are other options mentioned below that give greater forage quality and yield.  However, many of these products are in very short supply.  Please call your local seed supplier to check on availability.

Summer Annual Cover Crops Where No Feed is Needed

I would recommend a non-BMR Sorghum Sudangrass at 10-12#/acre.  These should retail at $1.10-1.15/#.  This choice is less expensive per acre than most summer annual options.  This product is in very, very short supply for 2013.

Other cover crop options include non-BMR Sudangrass, which should be planted at a minimum of 10-20#/acre and will retail for around $1.20/#. Choices here would include Piper and Monarch V, among others.  Both of these products are in very short supply for 2013.

I would also consider Hybrid Pearl Millet. Seeding rate will be 7-10#/acre.  Hybrid Pearl Millet is in exceptionally short supply for 2013.

Plant each of these options at ½ -1” deep.  Apply at least 25-30# of nitrogen per acre so there will be some plant health.  There is very low supply on all of these items.  Farmers should mow to alleviate seed production. Mow periodically and leave 6-8” tall residual so there will be continued regrowth.

Here is BMR Hybrid Sudangrass in Late July 2009 ready for 2nd cutting.  This was seeded at 37#/acre.

Summer Annual Cover Crops Where Feed is Needed

If the prevented planting acres will be used for forage production, consider the following (with crop insurance taken–harvested after Nov. 1):

Take the options above and increase the seeding rates as shown below:

  • non-BMR Sorghum-Sudangrass  –35-50#/acre
  • non-BMR Sudangrass  — 25-30#/acre
  • Hybrid Pearl Millet –12-15#/acre

 

If the prevented planting acres will be used for forage production, consider the following (no crop insurance taken – harvested throughout the summer):

Pro Max BMR Hybrid Sudangrass.
Sudangrass can get quite tall and yield well if managed properly.

Option #1 for livestock feed I’d recommend BMR Hybrid Sudangrass at 35#/acre.  BMR Sudangrass is superior to non-BMR Sudangrass for grazing, animal production, haymaking, ensiling, etc.  Plant 35-37#/acre. Retail cost is around $1.75-1.80/#.

This is truly a superior product for dairy, beef, and sheep operations.  It is grown on many dairy and beef farms across the Midwest, Upper Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic states.  These products are in exceptionally short supply in 2013.

Option #2 is BMR Sorghum X Sudangrass.  Many BMR Sorghum X Sudangrass varieties  yield well and are very high in quality.  It is much more palatable than non-BMR products.  IF it is for dairy, plant at 50#/acre. Retail cost is around $1.45-1.50/#.  Supply is exceptionally limited in 2013.

Summer Delight Teff Grass
Teff Grass can produce great summer forage.

Option #3 is Teffgrass.  Teffgrass needs to be planted into an alfalfa-like seedbed at 1/8-1/4” deep.  Seed it at 10-12#/acre. Retail cost is $3.00-$3.25/#.  Supply is fair to good.

Option # 4 is Hybrid Pearl Millet planted at a higher seeding rate.  For forage, plant at 12-15#/acre.  Hybrid Pearl Millet is in exceptionally short supply for 2013.

See some of these products in OSU trials at:

http://oardc.osu.edu/forage2008/table15.asp and http://oardc.osu.edu/forage2009/table11.asp

Profitability for BMR  Sorghum X Sudangrass and BMR Sudangrass products is generally higher than for non-BMR products.  For instance, data on BMR Sudangrass has shown a 20% increase in animal production and therefore is considerably more profitable than non-BMR Sudangrass.  In a year like this I’d guess that maximizing profit will be important!  Be sure to use 75#/N (actual) for these products at planting time. Follow with additional nitrogen after each harvest.


This photo is taken on the same day in the same test plot as the Pro-Max seen above. Pro-Max out-yielded the Nutri-Plus by 20% in this trial in Northern Indiana in 2009.

You can e-mail me at dave@plantcovercrops.com for additional recommendations, or for locations of dealers where these products are available, or for other questions.

Mustard as a Cover Crop

This article was originally posted on December 14, 2010.

Benefits of Mustard

Mustards are a good cover crop for a variety of reasons.

One of the main benefits is that they have high levels of  glucosinolates.  According to Cornell University:

The practice of using mustard cover crops to manage soil-borne pathogens is known as biofumigation. Biofumigation is simply the suppression of various soil-borne pests and diseases through naturally occurring compounds. All brassicas such as cabbage, kale, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, broccoli, mustard, and turnips naturally produce glucosinolates, the compounds that make certain brassicas “hot”. Brassicas sold as cover crops have been identified or specifically developed to contain very high levels of these glucosinolates. The higher the levels of glucosinolates present, the better the biofumigant effect. The process works as so: when plant cells are damaged such as by chopping, glucosinolates are released and come in contact with an enzyme (myrosinase). In the presence of water, the reaction produces the natural gas isothiocyanate (ITC). ITC is responsible for the suppressive effects of the practice. ITC is similar to the active ingredient in Metham Sodium or the conventional fumigant Vapam (a.i. Methyl ITC). In addition to the soil biofumigation benefits, brassica cover crops are ideal for adding organic matter to the soil and improving many soil health related characteristics due to the large quantity of “green” or fresh biomass produced and incorporated into the system.

(http://ccesuffolk.org/managing-soil-borne-pathogens-with-mustard-cover-crop)

Take a look at the interview I did with Kim and Matt Davidson from Mighty Mustard™:

 

If you’re unable to see the video, simply refresh your browser or click on the link below to watch it on YouTube.

Advantages of mustard as a cover crop:

  • Acts as a natural biofumigant
  • Generally winterkills (at 26 degrees F)
  • Easy to kill with herbicides and tillage
  • Provides alleopathic weed control
  • Helps “clean up” problem fields where nematodes are a problem
  • Hinders the germination/survival of ryegrass and other cover crops…may be used to clean up a problem cover crop ryegrass field
  • New varieties are superior to VNS or wild mustard for nematode or weed control/suppression

Disadvantages

  • Best to be planted 1-2″ deep
  • Must be planted as a monoculture
  • Must be killed or tilled in for a minimum of three weeks before planting a subsequent cash crop
  • Must have rain or irrigation after tillage/killing to help release glucosinilates
  • Needs 5-6 weeks growth for best results
  • Must not be used for animal feed

Visit Mighty Mustard for additional information on mustard as a cover crop.

Myths Debunked on Cover Crops and Colder Soil Temperatures? – Final Report

Sometimes apparent myths prove to be true and sometimes they prove to be…myths! 

In March 2013 I asked my brother Don Robison from Robison Farms to help me figure out how cover crops might effect soil temperatures.  We have looked at data in previous posts trying to answer the question “Do Cover Crops that Survive the Winter Keep the Soil Colder in the Spring than Fall-Tilled Soil?”

Now I have asked Don to chart all of his data that he has taken since late March in fall-tilled soil, no-till soil, no-till soil with cover crop annual ryegrass, and a lawn.  Don added a test of taking moisture readings as well because “we know” that no-till soils are “always wetter and colder than fall-tilled soils.”  At least that is common “knowledge” from many farmers I talk to from Minnesota to Missouri and points eastward.

Don made some comments that I believe are helpful:

  • The soil type in the lawn is Miami silt loam, while the fields are Crosby silt loam.
  • The no-till w/o cover crop test had a compaction layer at ~3-9″ deep in this area in our compaction tests we conducted in 2012.  Don’s thought is that where he is doing the tests had a compaction layer closer to the 3″ depth (so there is less percolation).
  • Don reports “No conclusions yet and maybe there won’t be any, but an interesting trend I’m starting to see is that in this cool wet spring, the conventional tillage does not seem to be living up the reputation of being warmer and easier to till in the spring than no till.  That may very well change when the rainfall and temperatures become more like you would expect to see in the planting season.”

Data reveals that cover crops do not appear to be keeping the soil colder.

It appears that our no-till soils with cover crops has consistently been warmer or just as warm as the fall-tilled soils.  I am placing the charts below for you to observe the data.

Robison Farms Soil temperatures Spring 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Robison Farms Soil Moisture Sp 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Robison Farms Air Temperatures Sp 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Robison Farms Rainfall data Sp 2013

 

 

 

Root Pit Reveals 40″ Cereal Rye Roots

Rye Pit

I am blessed to hear from farmers around the world about their cover cropping adventures.  One young man, Brian Scott, from Carroll County, Indiana has generously shared his information with me again this spring.  This post is Brian’s report from early May, 2013.  To see Brian’s photographs, click here.

We dug a few pits in our field today that has about 40 acres of cereal rye and another 40 of annual ryegrass. The cereal rye had a pretty good stand, but the ryegrass didn’t do so well over the winter.  Looks like we may not be the only farm with that problem this year?

Anyway I was pretty excited for our first year cover cropping that we found cereal rye roots down to 40″ today!  And we hit the water table below that since everything is still relatively wet from all the rain.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see more roots if we could have dug down deeper.  That was on pretty good soil that used to have manure applied every year until about 7 years ago when we got out of the hog business.

The ryegrass was on ground with much more clay near the surface, but I was glad to see we had roots down 2 feet where we did get a decent stand.

Both covers were sprayed today.  I think I would have liked to keep the cereal rye a bit longer, but with rain in the forecast we didn’t want it getting out of control if we got soaked again and couldn’t spray.  These were all seeded into standing corn on 9/19/2012.  In all we had about 200 acres of cover this year and have plans to seed at least 400 in the fall!

Thanks Brian!  And to everyone who have been sending info…watch for it to be on the blog soon.  Thanks to all who are sharing their stories.