Plant Cover Crops

Learning about the benefits of planting cover crops.

Aerial Application

Cover Crop Aerial Applicators Training Now Set

After several months of trying to arrange schedules between a number of very busy men we have now set dates and times for training pilots on aerial applying cover crops. Click here for the  CoverCropWebinarFlyer.

There are Two Sessions Available:

  • August 29 from 7-8 p.m  (CST)
  • August 30 from 6-7 a.m. (CST)

Limit: 25 people/session
Cost: $100/login

Please register for the date and time that works best for you:

https://student.gototraining.com/06gk9/rt/8432782830968572160

Additional training times may be offered if need arises.

These sessions will also be recorded and may be sent to those who could not attend.

Please call Dennis Gardisser or his assistant, Lynn Baxter, at (501) 676-1762,
if you have questions.

For other posts on aerial application of cover crops click here and also here.

Aerial Application of Cover Crops Training-NAAA Certification

I’m excited to report that there will be a training school in the summer of 2011 for aerial applicators that want to fly on cover crops! The planning for this meeting has been going on for some time with Dave Eby from AgriFlite Services, Inc, myself, and Dennis R. Gardisser, Ph.D, P.E. from WRK of Arkansas, LLC. At this time I am very confident that the training will end up with applicators being certified by the National Agricultural Aviation Association. Our goal is to train aerial applicators on how to apply cover crops so that producers are very satisfied with the end results.

The plan is to offer training to applicators across the Midwestern states sometime in June or July in an evening so that we can get as many applicators trained as possible. Many more details are to be ironed out but I want to let you all know that we are working on this awesome project! For more information contact me at dave@plantcovercrops.com.

900 acres of cover crops flown on in 4 1/2 hours and no skips! This is what we want from all aerial applicators (the brown areas within the cover crops were prevented planting acres in 2010).
This photo was taken in NW Indiana in late March just as the cover crops were greening up. Again, the brown spots were from wet spots in the field from 2010.
A ground level view of the cover crops from the fields pictured above (taken April 17, 2011).

 

Aerial Application of cover crops — an art or a science…or both?

I have heard that a number of aerial applicators admit that they are guessing approximately how wide they need to fly to apply different cover crops. I have seen evidence that some of them have guessed wrong!  Two or three years ago an applicator guessed wrong by leaving approximately 80’ wide gaps in a number of fields (of course he charged $2-3/acre less to apply the cover crop…so it was a good deal, right?!?).  These guys might have been okay at the “art of flying” but they did not understand the science of aerial applying the cover crops.

This past August I had the privilege of working with Dave and Garrett Eby from AgriFlite Services in Wakarusa, IN on the science of aerial applying cover crops.  AgriFlite worked with Dennis R. Gardisser, PhD, P.E. from WRK of Arkansas LLC to determine flight patterns, height, and speed with six different cover crop mixes and species.

I was part of the “measuring team” that helped to determine the spread pattern of each of the different mixes.  It was very interesting to see how the wind affected the spread pattern by as much as 12 feet and how Garrett adjusted his flight route to make up the difference (that’s some of the “art part” of aerial application).

After each mix or species was flown on the seeds that were caught in the different “seed collectors” were weighed by a scientific scale (an extremely sensitive scale).    The data collected by this test assured that AgriFlite would not have gaps and skips with the different cover crop mixes or cover crop species they flew on in producer’s fields.  The information gathered is property of AgriFlite and is available for a cost by calling Dave Eby at 574-862-4392.

Dave Eby loading the plane with Annual Ryegrass.
Garrett Eby flying on cover crops.
Cover Crop collectors that captured the seed for measurement.
Shown above is a mixture of annual ryegrass, crimson clover, and oilseed radishes in the seed collector.
Seed was collected from each collector, labeled, and taken to be weighed by a super sensitive scale.
Data entered into Dr Gardisser’s computer program provided detailed information to AgriFlite.
Shown above is a beautiful application of a mixture that was flown into standing corn by AgriFlite in a field in NW Indiana. After walking (or driving) a few fields we found no skips or gaps in the application.



When to aerial apply cover crops into corn

Corn should be dried "up to the ear" for best results when utilizing aerial application.
Corn should be dried "up to the ear" for best results when utilizing aerial application.
Approximately 50% of the sunlight should reach the ground in the field when aerial applying cover crops into corn.
Approximately 50% of the sunlight should reach the ground in the field when aerial applying cover crops into corn.

A few years back many said “August 15-25” was the right date to aerial seed cover crops into corn.  However, we found out very quickly that “dates” cannot be set…but timing can be.  While we know that August 15-25 often can be correct, we also know that following the calendar (like in the 2009 crop) can be a mistake.  So let’s set a few guidelines that should help all of us have better success when aerial applying cover crops into standing corn.

 

 

Guidelines for success when aerial applying cover crops into standing corn:

  • Aerial apply cover crops when the corn plant is dried approximately to the ear.

 

  • Aerial apply cover crops when approximately 50% of the sunlight can reach the ground between the rows.  (Walk in the field a few rows to determine this).

 

  • For success, do not fly cover crops into corn that is immature (still very green).  The seeds will most likely germinate and then mold (not enough sunlight to conduct photosynthesis and too moist of conditions).

 

When is it too late to aerial apply cover crop seed into standing corn?

  • You need 5-6 weeks of growing time for cover crops going into the winter for best winterhardiness and performance.

 

  • Winter Cereal Rye is more “flexible” than annual ryegrass or other cover crops when it comes to the lateness of application.

 

  • If corn will be harvested soon after an aerial application can be made, consider the cost of other types of cover crop applications (i.e. drilling the cover crop in after harvest).  Utilize the lesser expensive application.