Plant Cover Crops

Learning about the benefits of planting cover crops.

Winter Barley

Cover Cropping North of I-80 After Corn & Soybeans – A Whole New World?

There is a lot of Iowa and Minnesota and Wisconsin above I-80. Is this all part of the “no cover crops works here after corn and soybeans” zone? Maybe not!

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 in Wisconsin and northern Illinois are having cover crops aerial applied with good success. But I agree with Sarah; there are still challenges.

Cover Crop Challenges in the North

This field of Annual Ryegrass is in SE Wisconsin and was aerial applied into standing corn in the fall of 2011 with great success.

I see the following challenges to using cover crops North of I-80 after corn and soybeans:

  • Shorter growing season after corn and soybean harvest
  • The use of “full season” (for the region) soybean varieties and corn hybrids to maximize yield potential
  • Fear using winter cereal rye (their best option after corn and beans) because of potential risks
  • Fewer choices for cover crop species to use
  • Harsh winters and less snowfall to protect smaller cover crop plants

Cover Crop Opportunities in the North

  • More aerial applicators successfully flying on cover crops into standing corn and soybeans
  • Improved yields following winter cereal rye, a crop that can be planted late
  • High yields and profit with shorter season corn allowing timely application of cover crops
  • Annual Ryegrass is working well in southern Wisconsin and southern Michigan and there are many positive results from using it.
  • Dixie Crimson Clover has a good history of surviving the winter even in mid-Michigan and southern Wisconsin.
  • Late planted Austrian Winter Peas are overwintering as far north as the top of the Thumb of Michigan.
  • Winter Barley (winter hardy varieties) is surviving well in southern to mid-Wisconsin and in southern Minnesota and used for a cover crop or haylage before planting corn silage.

While not every producer North of I-80 will have success with cover crops after corn and soybeans, there are a number now that are happy with their results.

My message is to use wisdom and best management practices.

IF you want to try cover crops after corn and soybeans and you are north of I-80, realize that you are not the first person to try it.  Many have gone before you with good results.

Don’t give up before you investigate the possibilities.

Now, if you are north of I-90…

Winter Barley-a “forgotten cover crop species”

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Winter Barley is an excellent cover crop. Be sure to use varieties with improved disease resistance and winterhardiness.

Winter Barley makes a great cover crop. In fact, in many regions Winter Barley is now being used successfully as a cover crop.  Newer winterhardy varieties make Winter Barley much more viable to use in the colder regions of the upper-Midwest.  Winter Barley performs better on poorer soils than many other cereal grains and its early maturity and forage quality make it a top choice for dairy farmers following corn silage and subsequent manure applications.  Winter Barley is not as “tough” as Winter Cereal Rye under traffic or late planting dates; however it is considerably improved over rye for forage and grain production.

Advantages of Winter Barley

  • Makes excellent feed or haylage
  • Up to 2 weeks earlier harvest than wheat
  • Less N needed for top crop
  • Excellent scavenger of N
  • More tolerant of low fertility
  • Excellent drought tolerance
  • Exceptional erosion control
  • Excellent weed suppression

Disadvantages of Winter Barley

  • Somewhat less winterhardy than rye
  • Less traffic tolerant than rye

Plant Winter Barley at 2 bushels/acre for cover/grain; 3 bushels/acre for cover/baleage.