Plant Cover Crops

Learning about the benefits of planting cover crops.

soil health

Fall Cover Crop Management

While in southern Minnesota in early September 2013 I was asked when a farmer should plow his cover crop field this fall because he needs the fields to be “black” this winter in preparation for next spring.  I shuddered.  There I was in a beautiful field of cover crops that are jump-starting some biology on a “biologically dead” field and the farmer wants to kill his biology driving mechanism.  UG!  The main reason he wanted to till the field was to have warmer soils in the spring where he had black soil.  I shared that our research sowed much different results.  His thought process sound right but has proven to be a myth, not a fact.

A beautiful stand of Oats, Berseem Clover, and Pasja Hybrid Brassica on prevent plant acres in SO. MN
A beautiful stand of Oats, Berseem Clover, and Pasja Hybrid Brassica on prevent plant acres in SO. MN

I told the farmer to leave the cover crops in all winter and use conservation tillage next spring.  (He’s not a no-tiller.)  We dug some shallow root pits for a field day and we found many problems that I believe can be somewhat rectified if the cover crops are left in all winter.

We found many soil health problems in this prevent plant field

  • Severe compaction– many areas had compaction starting at 2-3″ deep.  Part of that was from spring tillage of wet soils…but the compaction was about 8″ thick as the soil was coming up in blocks the size of cinder blocks!
  • Lack of soil biology – I know this because we found a significant amount of corn fodder 2 foot deep that was not even breaking down.  It would have been buried with the deep ripper 18 months ago.  I could not believe my eyes!
  • Lack of aeration in the soil – the soil was literally rock hard.  We did find a few earthworm channels but it was so dry that worms were small and deep.
  • Low organic matter – I’m not sure how low it was but there was very little soil structure.  I talked with a regional NRCS employee and the local SWCD specialist and both men lamented that many of the soils in that region were “about as bad as this one”.
We found corn fodder two feet deep that had not yet decompose after over 18 months.
We found corn fodder two feet deep that had not yet decompose after over 18 months.

I need to be fair.  The farmer currently renting this field has only farmed it a few years and he is making major strides to improve this farm.  But he has lots to accomplish before he has a healthy field.  Having cover crops are a great first step and he knows it.

Other solutions (instead of cover crops) being proposed to fix the “tight” soils (“unhealthy” soils) in the region

  • Tile – LOTS and LOTS of tile has been installed in prevent plant acres this year.  Farmers know they need aeration and percolation in their “tight” soils.  The regional specialist from NRCS lamented that many farmers don’t believe that cover crops are a solution to make their soils better long term.  Tile is not bad; but tile and cover crops are a much better solution.
  • Deep ripping – this will get air into the soil and break up compaction, but will it build soil health?  No, it will not  (note the corn fodder found 2 foot deep in a root pit).  Let cover crops naturally deep rip the soil.
  • Tillage- and lots of it – many fields in the area had been tilled (disked, field cultivated, etc…) four times already to control weeds…Unfortunately it also reduces organic matter and soil structure and soil health.

So what should happen with the cover crops heading into winter?

  • Leave the cover crop growing into the winter – This will give the best opportunity to help with aeration and percolation.  This also helps build soil structure and reduce compaction.  (See deep ripping, and tiling above…just let the cover crops do this naturally!)
  • Sarah Carlson from Practical Farmers of Iowa recently wrote an article about this topic and you can find it here Prevent Plant, Cover Crops, Now What 2013.
  • Let the cover crops keep putting down deep roots – we found roots of crimson clover, radishes, cereal rye, annual ryegrass, oats, and Pasja all around 24″ deep.  Let them keep growing deeper to open up the soil to get air and moisture deeply into the soil profile.
This 5 week old PileDriver Radish shows the compaction zone starts at around 2-3" seep. Roots on this radish went over 24" deep despite very dry conditions.
This 5 week old PileDriver Radish shows the compaction zone starts at around 2-3″ seep. Roots on this radish went over 24″ deep despite very dry conditions.
This field had very poor soil structure. The regional NRCS specialist told me that many fields in the area had similar issues
This field had very poor soil structure. The regional NRCS specialist told me that many fields in the area had similar issues

Cover Crop Field Day Set in Blooming Prairie, MN

PileDriver at Hagan Farms 2 33 days
This Radish was planted in late July 2013 and after 33 days has tremendous growth. This mix included oats and crimson clover and radishes.

Cover Crops will be the main topic of discussion on September 4, 2013 at a cover crop field day and meeting in Blooming Prairie, MN. I have the privilege of speaking at this event as we look at cover crops on prevented plant acres.  We will also look at what cover crops work best in the upper Midwest.  We will be on Brad Hagan’s family farm and possibly look at Dale Ramsey’s farm too.  Please note that we will be looking in root pits (where the action really is)!

I received this note from Legacy Seeds representative Andrew Heath about the field day/meeting:

“We  plan on structuring the event much like an open house with designated times where you will be able to address the crowd. We will start the event at 10 am and have you speak from 11 to 11:45 and again at 1 to 1:45. There will also be transportation to the cover crop plot and some of the field that you, TJ, Brad and I visited earlier with root pits dug. This will happen from 12 to 1 and 2 to 3.”

I have seen the plots and have added photos here on this post to entice you to come if you are in the region.

As a side note, Hagan farms will be no-tilling corn into these fields in 2014.  We’ll follow-up on these fields next spring and see how these fields compare to others that did not have a cover on them.

This prevent plant field had plenty of nitrogen from manure to capture. Hagan farms used a hybrid brassica and spring barley to secure the nitrogen and Berseem clover to produce more N and provide better soil health.
This prevent plant field had plenty of nitrogen from manure to capture. Hagan farms used a hybrid brassica and spring barley to secure the nitrogen and Berseem clover to produce more N and provide better soil health.

Are Cover Crops Profitable to the Farmer?

Establishing the row crop into a cover crop is vital for success. Very rarely do I see this as a problem as farmers do a great job of "precision planting" corn and soybeans.
Establishing the row crop into a cover crop is vital for success. Very rarely do I see this as a problem as farmers do a great job of “precision planting” corn and soybeans.

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 from Practical Farmers of Iowa told me that after Joel Gruver and I spoke in Iowa that farmers were leaving the presentation room excited and ready to plant more cover crops in 2013.  That gets me excited!

However, do cover crops always show extra profit for every producer in every field?  The answer is “no.”

Robison Farms Research Plots

In a previous post I shared data, along with the other interesting benefits, that we found in our long-term no-tilled soil – compared to the same soil with cover crop plots.

However, the real reason we did the research was to find out if we could be even more profitable when using cover crops with no-till instead of just long-term no-till.  What we found was a significant increase in profitability in each of our plots in 2012.

The net revenue on each cover crop species or mix was considerable on our farm in 2012.

The net revenue on each cover crop species or mix was considerable on our farm in 2012.  We used $5.75/bushel as the value of our corn.

 

The “worst” profit improvement was $41.78/acre and the “best” was $286.94/acre – impressive figures.

However, we did see additional benefits that may not always add this kind of improved profit:

  • increased earthworm activity
  • improved root mass and root depth
  • improved water infiltration
  • improved plant health

But these may not always add profit.

Other  $uccess Stories

Since the inception of Plant Cover Crops.com, many farmers I’ve gotten to know have had increased yields and profits.  Dave from Central Indiana has had very good success with improved profitability and improved soils.  Dave, from NW Ohio, has seen improved yields and profits following cover crops most years.

Others like Dan DeSutter, Rodney Rulon, Terry Taylor, Cameron Mills, and Larry Bonnell have had great success and continue to use cover crops more and more while refining their systems to fit their needs and management practices.

It is easy to see the area where the soybeans were planted into tilled ground over a new tile compared to the soybeans no-tilled into winter cereal rye.
It is easy to see the area where the soybeans were planted into tilled ground over a new tile compared to the soybeans no-tilled into winter cereal rye.

Cover Crop Disappointments

As I said earlier, not every farmer will have success with cover crops every time.

Bob Ormiston,  from NW Indiana, recently e-mailed me about his 2012 experience.

Last year we had three fields of cereal rye which we sprayed about the time the rye was starting to head.  In two of the fields, we had worked new tile lines to level the ground and wiped out the cereal rye.  There was an enormous difference in the quality of the bean stand, and the no-rye tilled beans were significantly taller than the beans planted into the rye.  I think it is fair to say that in 2 of the 3 fields we took a 5-10 bpa yield hit because of the cereal rye.  The problem was very likely compounded by the crazy dry and hot weather.  The field with the best stand made 58 bpa.  The other two around 49.

Bob later commented,

The beans in the worked areas of the cereal rye had a much better stand and throughout most of the growing season they were taller.  They were all drilled with a JD no-till drill.  The rye was around 20 inches tall and starting to head.  The beans were planted about 1.25 inches deep.  Weed control was excellent and both glyphosate and Extreme were utilized.  To reiterate, I felt the perceived yield loss in 2 of our 3 bean fields was a direct result of the drought and high temps.  The 78 acre field that yielded 58 bpa received substantially more rain and generally had a much better stand than the other 2 fields.

Tom Burlingham from Wisconsin notes,

›Neighbors plot had 10 bu less corn per acre where there was radish cover after 2011 wheat. 75 vs 65. Three strip trial with UW Ext. (Under exceptionally dry conditions.)

Multi-Year Research from Iowa

A three year study done by Practical Farmers of Iowa has shown both improved yields AND also yield loss when following winter cereal rye with corn and soybeans. It is important to note that when yield was lost it was sometimes a failure to control the cover crop adequately.  However, that was not always the case – their 2010 corn yield following winter cereal rye was negatively impacted in each of their locations.

Conclusions

While cover crops have been the “hot topic” over the past 3-4 years we still have a lot to learn.

Some experienced cover croppers may scoff at losing yield and claim it is because only one species was used as a cover crop – that we all need to use “cocktail mixes.”

Others may say that using one species is all they are comfortable with managing.

Both groups might be correct in their thinking.  But each individual farmer must make his own choice of what he can deal with (or wants to deal with).  Bob Ormiston is investigating using Hairy Vetch and Crimson Clover with a grass mixture in 2013 before his 2014 corn crop.  My brother, Dad, and I are looking to do straight winter cereal rye before all of our soybeans in 2014.

Whatever choice a producer makes should always have a goal of improving the soil health.  If the soil is healthier, then usually a better, more profitable crop will follow.  But it does not always happen that way.  Like many things in life, patience and best management practices usually pay off – and most likely will always pay off in the long run.

I’m interested to hear about your experiences using cover crops. Have you seen a benefit? Have you struggled? You can share your thoughts below in the comment section or send me an email.

 

Cover Crops Enhance Water Infiltration/Percolation

In late September of 2011 I was walking in our family corn field in central Indiana–in the pouring rain. Following the wettest spring in the eastern corn belt in 100 years we had a summertime drought that saw less than 2 inches in July and August combined. In that same time period we had 32 days above 90 degrees.

We just had 3 inches of rain yet my soil was dry at 1/2 inch in this area that had been tilled wet in the spring.

On this September day we were having rain…3 inches worth of glorious rain! I threw on my rain coat and Tingley boots, grabbed my shovel and went into the corn field where our cover crop plots had been planted in the fall of 2010 and killed in May 2011. As I walked through the field I noticed that where the soil had been tilled (see previous blog post) I was seeing dry soil underneath my boot track! Now catch the scene here…no rain for much of 60+ straight days…now a 3″ rain and virtually none of the moisture getting into the soil! Literally I had less than 1/2″ of the soil depth that was moist! Dry footprints followed me all the way to the end of the field. I was not happy.

When I reached the area where the cover crop test plot was (that area was not tilled this spring) I dug into the check area that was no-tilled yet did not have a cover crop. In that area I dug into the soil and I found moisture 2 1/2-3 inches deep. This area was now no-tilled for 23 straight years. That made me feel better.

Water was standing (or running off) of the soil that was tilled wet in the spring of 2011. There was very little infiltration from a 3 inch rain

 

In this photo we see infiltration at 2 1/2 - 3 inches deep. This soil has been no-tilled for 23 straight years.

 

Then I dug in the area that had been no-tilled for 23 straight years and had a cover crop the previous winter. I was very pleased when I dug in the areas where we previously had annual ryegrass and cereal rye and found moisture had filtered (penetrated) in 7 (seven) inches deep!

Water infiltrated 7 inches deep where we had corn no-tilled into cover crop rye.

 

 

 

This section of the field had a cereal rye cover crop in 2010-11 and was no-tilled. Note the lack of water standing on top of the soil! Where did the water go? Into the soil!

 

Watch these videos on what I found when digging for earthworms in this sections with cover crops and no-till and where there was tillage without a cover crop. I believe we have an additional answer to why I had so much better infiltration where I had the cover crops..earthworms and roots!

This "rogue" radish provided information that we had a compaction zone at about 3 inches deep in our no-till field; thus reducing water infiltration where we had no cover crop.

Yet, I wondered, why did the moisture stop at 2 1/2-3″ in the no-till plots? I found the answer from a rogue radish. We had a few radishes that came up in the field that had been planted in the fall of 2010 (the fall of 2010 was so dry that many of the radishes did not come up until very late…or not until spring, or in a few cases until mid-summer).  As I previously wrote, Radish does have some hard seed.  I dug around one of the radishes and found a constriction in the radish at 2 1/2-3″ deep! Even after 23 years of no-till I still had a compaction problem! I believe that is one reason why cover crops help producers to transition from conventional tillage to no-till…cover crops penetrate through compaction layers.

Cover Crops and Ray the Soil guy

Ray Archuleta and I after we spoke at the Southern Indiana Grazing Conference on soil health and cover crops.

Over the past three years I have had the privilege of speaking at a number of meetings when Ray Archuleta is also on the agenda.  Ray is a tremendous source of knowledge and information on soil health and how cover crops and no-till help improve soil health.  Ray is an “expert” in every sense of the word in his field.  His passion is evidenced each time I hear him speak…and every time I hear him I learn something new too.  Ray works for the NRCS and he travels “everywhere”…at least it seems that way as we cross paths pretty often!  Click here to see Ray’s website. I believe you will find very helpful as you consider the health of your soil and how to improve it.

If you ever have an opportunity to hear Ray speak…DO NOT miss it!

 

Planting into “Out of Control” Peas – The Rest of the Story

In September 2011 I posted about an Ohio farmer that planted into “out of control” peas and shared about his story of how the field was looking pre-harvest.  I have recently visited with Dave (the producer) and he shared the information that a number of you asked for…and also surprising yield data. Dave farms with his father-in-law Ron in Mercer County, Ohio near Rockford (NW Ohio).

Sometimes it takes courage to farm with cover crops! Dave and his father-in-law Ron planted with confidence as the ground was "very mellow" compared to other ground without a cover crop.

Here are Dave’s observations and the 2010-2011 field history:

  • Hog Manure applied late summer of 2010 – 5000 gal/ac
  • No other fall fertilizer
  • N-Vest Groundbreaker Mix (Austrian Winter Peas and GroundHog Radish) planted Labor Day weekend 2010

Peas that survived – and other weeds, wheat, clover, etc. – were sprayed (after a wet, wet spring) on June 2, 2011.

________________________________________________

Herbicide/Insecticide Mix: (rates per acre)
20 gal Water
Alliance – .2 gal   (1 gal/100 gal water)
Roundup WeatherMax – 44oz
Weedone 650 – 1pt
PowerLock Surfactant – 6oz
Baythroid (insecticide) – 2oz

Corn was planted on June 3, 2011.

Additional Fertilizer applied (in addition to nutrients from manure and N from peas)

20 gal/ac 10-34-0 starter fertilizer with 1qt/ac zinc

40 gal/ac 28-0-0 side dress with Agrotain N stabilizer

Results

Even though several acres in the area were too wet to plant this field of peas was in great shape as you can see the row closed "perfectly" behind the planter.

Weigh wagon test showed 215 bu dry yield.  Dave guesses the whole field average was between 200-215 dry (he has no scales at home to check weight of entire crop).
Dave also thinks that the yield was 10-15 bu better that most of their other corn (w/o manure and w/o cover crops).

The seed placement of this no-till planting into the peas was "near-perfect".

All things considered…the wettest spring in Eastern Corn Belt History, late planting date, planting into 3+ foot tall peas, < 1″ of rain in the month of July (with 22 days 90 degrees or more), a wet fall that delayed harvest..and the result was over  200 bushels/acre.  I’d take that everyday for that part of Ohio, and so will Dave and his father-in-law Ron.

The roots on the peas were massive by early June. Don't expect this in most years but this certainly did not hinder planting, getting a good stand, or attaining a very high yield!

Other observations from Dave:

Positives:

Better soil structure

Deeper root penetration by corn roots

Great seedbed to plant into

Great soil cover after cover crop was killed

Better water retention thru the dry months

Nutrients saved from hog manure

Negatives:

Too much growth in wet spring

Took a lot of time to plant due to pea growth

 

Thanks Dave for sharing your story!

66″ No-Till Corn Roots Following Cover Crops

This is not a scene from a horror flick...it's a scene from Frank Gibb's experiment showing that smoke was coming up from the tile drains over 200 feet from the tile entry point.

I had a “see it to believe it” moment in late August near Stryker, Ohio (Williams County – NW Ohio).  A very long and deep root pit had been dug as Frank Gibbs (Ohio NRCS Resource Soil Scientist) was looking for the tile in a continuous no-till corn field.  I’m thankful that the tile was not easily found because we found pretty remarkable “things” going on in the soil beneath the soil.  What were those “things” we found?

Watch the Frank Gibbs video to see how special cover crops and no-till make a tough soil a healthy soil!  Frank does some pretty incredible work that shows the value of having a healthy soil.  Now, watch this second video of the smoke test results.  I have seen this test three times and NEVER seen it this awesome!

  • corn roots and earthworm channels up to 5 1/2 feet deep on no-till corn
  • top soil approximately 3 feet deep on top of lake bed soil
  • smoke from Frank’s “smoke test” coming up from 34″ deep over 200 feet away from the entry point

Frank says in the video that often times that the corn roots would “be turning out” when they hit the lake bed soil.  But because of cover crops and no-till the earthworms had plenty to eat for much of the year and the soil was very healthy compared to similar soil types in NW Ohio.  Obviously these roots did not “turn out”…they kept going down all the way to over 5 feet deep!