In a previous post I wrote that cover crops can suppress weeds. And many farmers are planting them with that primary benefit in mind. But, can cover crops become weeds? Unfortunately, the answer is “yes, they can.” Obviously we never want this to happen on our farm. And with good management practices, we can lessen […]
Can Cover Crops Become Weeds? Read More »
As Oregon and other west coast farmers try to keep up with the demand of getting seed back to the Midwest from their newly harvested crops, we are beginning to see some potential issues with just-harvested seed. In the past, supply was usually greater than demand at harvest time. However, seed companies and farmers now
Be Aware of Dormant Seed in Cover Crops Read More »
Cover Crops: Will I Get a Return on Investment Over the past two months my brother Don Robison and I have had opportunities in Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin to share a presentation entitled “Return On Investment from Cover Crops.” I will do the same in Ontario and Michigan over the next few weeks. Sarah Carlson
Are Cover Crops Profitable to the Farmer? Read More »
Is it ever too early plant cover crops? YES. As many of you have figured out, I sell seed for a living. I also have been a farmer or involved on the farm since I was a little boy. But first and foremost I am an agronomist. The temptation of a seed salesman is to
Is it Ever Too Early to Plant Cover Crops? Read More »
Can you still gain value in a cover crop when it is planted after wheat in a dry year? During the week of October 15, 2012 I traveled a wide swath of Wisconsin looking at cover crops. In the eastern half of the state the cover crops looked very good. In the western half the
Cover Crops Planted After Wheat in a Dry Year Read More »
Radishes, Crimson Clover, and Bears Walking in cover crop fields in northern Indiana is easy compared to doing it northern Wisconsin. In northern Indiana my main issue is tripping over large radish tubers sticking out of the ground. In northern Wisconsin my main issue was that plus watching out for bears. I’m not talking about
Cover Crops and Bears? Read More »
Over the past few years farmers and ground applicators have been looking for new and innovative ways to apply cover crops. One of the more successful ways has been with a high-boy or Hagie sprayer/spreader. My friend Craig Simon from NE Indiana had a mixture of Oats and Rye and Turnips applied this way by
Applying Cover Crops with a High-Boy Read More »
Sarah Carlson from Practical Farmers of Iowa reminded me that cover cropping north of I-80 is different than cover cropping in northern Indiana. She’s right. But how different is it, and why is it different? Sarah is quoted in a very good article in Corn and Soybean Digest that helps explain the differences. Several farmers
Cover Cropping North of I-80 After Corn & Soybeans – A Whole New World? Read More »