Cover Crops and USDA.

Cover Crops and USDA.

cover crops

In past years, using cover crops and crop insurance had sometimes been in conflict.  These issues had been addressed, but USDA recently came out with new guidelines that clear things up and seem to fit into most management situations.  It you go to the USDA cropland page  and look on the left side of the page to click on the Cover Crops Termination Guidelines, you will get a download that tells you all the rules.

Responsible Nutrient Management

Responsible Nutrient Management

cover crops Nutrient Management Soil Management

We have spent the past three days at the National No-Till Conference in St. Louis.  Not only is this a great No-Till Conference, but it is a great crop production conference.

At the Luncheon on the first day, Responsible Nutrient Management Practitioners we awarded for their diligence in taking care of their soil nutrient levels.  Jason Carter, Mike Werling, and Mike Taylor were recognized for their nutrient management programs.  Jason Carter is using chicken litter to build his soils up.  His program also includes annual soil testing to measure progress.  As his soil has improved, he has cut back on chicken litter.

Mike Werling is looking at economics and applying fertilizer at modest rates to maximize profits.  He soil tests every three years.  Cover cr ops are also a component of his program.  Werling uses less than one pound per bushel of corn to produce high yields economically.

Mike Taylor makes sure his soil tests correlate with soil types on his farm.  He also uses cover crops and lower than average fertilizer rates to produce higher than average yields.  He uses variable rate technology as appropriate and also applies in row fertilizer to spoon feed his crops.  He is using No-till and cover crops to improve organic matter levels on the topsoil.

Planting Corn in Cereal Rye Cover Crop

Planting Corn in Cereal Rye Cover Crop

cover crops

We have seen issues with planting corn into cereal rye cover crops.  I have always thought that killing the cereal rye early could help.  Researchers at Iowa State University have found that cereal rye supports the growth of microbes that can be damaging to corn seedlings.  They found that earlier kills worked better.  They also suggest that nitrogen at planting time can help promote healthier corn plants.  We have also found that with low soil test sulfur, rye can create a sulfur deficiency.  Sulfur at planting is also a good idea.  See what they say about reducing the risk of corn seedling disease and yield loss after cereal rye.

Carbon Nitrogen Ratios

Carbon Nitrogen Ratios

cover crops Nitrogen management

Carbon Nitrogen Ratios were studied at University of Nebraska to see how much nitrogen is contributed to the next year's crop.  It is interesting that in looking at Carbon Nitrogen Ratios in cover crops that it appears that a high tonnage crop like cereal rye may actually contribute more nitrogen than a legume crop that fixes nitrogen from the air.  I would like to do some in season nitrogen testing to confirm this, but it looks interesting enough to pass along for consideration.

Turbo-Till Seeder

Turbo-Till Seeder

cover crops Vertical Tillage

Seeding cover crops effectively can be an issue.  I have seen the results from the Turbo-till Seeder with a seeding attachment.  Stands are nice and even with good emergence.  It seems to work better than vertical tillage after broadcasting seed.

Iowa Cover Crops

Iowa Cover Crops

cover crops

My Iowa reporter sent the photographs below of cover crops in Iowa.

Cereal Rye

Cereal Rye

Oats and Radish

Oats and Radish

Fall Weed Control

Fall Weed Control

cover crops weed control

I have written several times on fall weed  control.  Early on, I failed to see the value.  With resistant weeds and heavy pressure, fall weed control is making sense to me at this point.  One fall weed control technique is to use fall applied herbicide.  A residual herbicide will not only supress the winter annuals, but i will also give some early spring control.  Use herbicides if you have n ot planned on cover crops.

The second technique of course it to use cover crops.  Weed suppression will last well into the growing season, and I have seen very good results.  You may still be able to get cereal rye seed to sow on fields that are going to soybeans next spring.  If this is your first time to use cover crops, I do not recommend planting corn into cereal rye.  I have one customer who is planning to do so, but he has done a lot of research on the subject before taking the plunge.

No-till Farmer says Weed Control and Soil Health go Hand in Hand.  

Herbicides and Cover Crops

Herbicides and Cover Crops

cover crops weed control

Cover Crops are a great way to improve your soil health and enhance your weed control.  Issues with using cover crops include the ability to plant them in a timely manner and the ability to get a reasonable stand.  One of the factors standing in the way of a good stand is what residual herbicide have you used on the current crop.  No-till Farmer writes about Corn and Soybean Herbicides and Rotation to Cover Crops .  They say that for most herbicides, you should not have a problem.

Soil Health Partners

Soil Health Partners

cover crops

Soil Health Partnership is a farmer led movement to promote use of cover crops.  Yesterday on the last day of the Farm Progress Show in Boone IA, the corporate sponsors announced a committeemen of $4 Million over the coming years to support the group.  Their goals include establishing research protocols to support cover crops.

Cover Crop Time

Cover Crop Time

cover crops

If you have not planned your cover crop strategy for the fall, now is the time to think about what you want to do and get set up to do it.  This Prairie Farmer article gives some ideas.

The easiest to do is cereal rye after corn in fields where you are going to soybeans.  Corn planted in to cereal rye is not for beginners, although I know some people who are doing it.

In thinking about cover crops, set your goals in order to decide what ti plant.  Midwest Cover Crops Tool can help in decision making.

Cover crops can help with weed control, improve tilth, build organic matter, and help implement No-Till.

Cover Crop survey

Cover Crop survey

cover crops

I did not realize how long it has been since I posted.  We are putting the finishing touches on winter work.  Planning to head to the field tomorrow.

No-Till Farmer is trying to get people to complete a cover crops survey.

Contrasting Cover Crop Presentations

Contrasting Cover Crop Presentations

cover crops

Last week, I heard contrasting presentations on cover crops.  Emerson Nafziger made a presentation in Litchfield on Wednesday.  He looked at research from several years of data on cover crops.  In his presentation he looked mainly for yield increases, and he did not find any.  It reminded me of  presentations on No-Til in the late 80's and early 90's.  He seemed to be missing the point.  Cover crops are a long term proposition and short term benefit can be difficult to assess.

Anthony Yannarell presented his research in Champaign on Saturday.  Unlike many researchers who prefer to look at yes or no answers, Yannarelll was looking into the why of cover crops and their weed control effect.  He used red clover in his research and found that leaving the entire plant on the surface was most effective in weed control,  One of the real benefits of cover crops is the weed control I am seeing.  While the weed control may not pay off in yield, hopefully you are getting some savings on herbicides.

Kill Annual Ryegrass Early

Kill Annual Ryegrass Early

cover crops

but not too early. Cover crops can be as easy to kill as having them freeze out, or as difficult to kill as Annual Ryegrass.  Many farmers I know have successfully planted soybeans into green cereal rye, but Annul Ryegrass is not so easy to get rid of.  Start by trying to kill it early.  It is too cold now. Wait until daytime temperatures are in the 50's so that some photosynthesis is taking place.  more details are available in a recent Prairie Farmer Article.

Cover Crops and Soil Health

Cover Crops and Soil Health

cover crops

Healthy Soils For Healthy Waters was the title of the Symposium that kicked off the Edge of Field Monitoring and Nutrient Management Conference.  The highlight of the whole conference was listening to David Brandt of Ohio discuss his system of cover crops and No-Till.  Brandt has been using cover crops for over 30 years.  His soils test very high for microbial respiration.  This indicates high microbial activity.  His figure of a $72 per acre net benefit to using cover crops is a  compelling reason to go for it.  I also had the privilege to visit with Brandt in person.  He talked a good bit about the benefits of using multiple cover crop species to enhance benefits.  He has tried as many as 12 species, but finds little addition benefit beyond using 8 species.

In an informal discussion over dinner, one of the Ohio State University professors in attendance indicated that he did not think that you could ever get enough nitrogen out of cover crops to have top yields.  Brandt disputed those remarks saying that he could raise 250 bushel per acre corn if he planted cover crops after harvesting wheat instead of going to double crop soybeans. Brandt is also experimenting with inter-seeding soybeans between corn rows for their nitrogen benefit.  The more we hear about cover crops, the more compelling it seems to use them,

Corn and Soybeans together?

Corn and Soybeans together?

corn cover crops

Dave Brandt a leading Cover Crops advocate and farmer, is trying to grow soybeans as a nitrogen source on his farm.  He seeds the soybeans between the corn rows.  It is an interesting idea that Brandt says is working.  Read more in Farm Futures.

Cover crop Planting Time

Cover crop Planting Time

cover crops

We are fast approaching the end of the covercrop seeding time for many crops.  If you are flying one radish, annual ryegrass, or many other crops, now is the time.  The recent rain should be advantageous, especially if the seed is out there,  Cereal Rye can be planted as late as Thanksgiving, but if those fields will be planted to corn, be sure and kill it early in the spring.  Soybeans can be planted into rye more easily.

On the Fence about Cover Crops?

On the Fence about Cover Crops?

cover crops

If you are still thinking about whether or not to plant cover crops this fall, it is decision time.  If you are deciding on species, The Midwest Cover Crops Council can help.  Species to choose depends on goals, desired planting method, desired kill method, and planned crop for 2016.  If you are deciding on fields, pick your least productive.  You are likely to get a quick response on poor ground. You need to get seed ordered now.  You need to figure out how you are going to plant now.  If you plan to fly seed on, you need to line up a flyer now.  We have seen some good results with cover crops including better weed control, better crop vigor, and excellent control of wind erosion.  

Soybeans Planted in Cover Crop

Soybeans Planted in Cover Crop

cover crops

The soybeans below were planted early in a cover crop of Cereal Rye. The beans look excellent.  The weed control is excellent.  The producer likes to plant into green cover crop because he says the planter works better.  You can't argue with success.  This field is near Portage Des Sioux, Missouri.

Soybeans in Cover Crop

Hog Farm with Cover Crops

Hog Farm with Cover Crops

cover crops livestock

Janette Swarts shared this picture of  hog farm using cover crops.

Cover Crop Tolerance to Herbicides

Cover Crop Tolerance to Herbicides

cover crops weeds

Last week, I wrote about planning for cover crops now.  Herbicide damage to the cover crop is one thing to look at.  Iowa State University recently published some ratings for cover crops and herbicides.  In general, cereal rye looks to be the most tolerant and Tillage radish the most sensitive.  Click the link above to read the article in No-Till Farmer.