Plan Early for Fall Cover Crops

Jul 12, 2021

July 4th is behind us and that last week has allowed us to get some spraying done between the rains. Overall the crops are looking pretty good considering the weather they have been through and the amount of re-plant we had this season as well. I wanted to take a little time today to discuss cover crops and getting a plan together for them so we can have the best chance at success. The most common cover crops in my area are oats, wheat, rye, and radishes. Oats and radish work well if you are just looking for a fall/winter cover that will die off over winter and requires very little management in the spring. Wheat and rye on the other hand will provide a green cover in both the fall and come back next spring. Wheat and rye are also very easy to establish by drilling or broadcasting. Cover crops have a lot of soil health benefits by providing erosion control, increasing soil biology and adding organic matter to the soil profile. Cover crops can be a useful tool for weed control as well but we just need to take a few extra steps in management to control them in the spring. If you have questions on cover crops or would like more information contact your local SFG agronomist.