By Clint Nester

We are quickly approaching the time to start thinking about fall cover crop options. In our business, we have seen some excellent soil health and erosion benefits from cover crops and encourage growers to take a look at the rewards cover crops can provide. If you are just getting started, start — small and don’t get discouraged.

If you are a longtime cover crop user, try some new species and experiment with timing of termination. Whether you plan to interseed into a standing crop or wait to plant until after harvest, there are many options and variables to consider.

Should I plant in-crop? To maximize cover crop benefits, the cover crop must become established and get significant fall growth. To achieve good growth, growers can interseed cover crops into a standing crop. With interseeding, you are limited to aerial application with a helicopter or plane — or there are several high-clearance seeders that have been built across Ohio. In my experience, these seeding options have provided variable results in regard to cover crop stands. However, earlier seeding dates have been showing promise to improved stands.

Weather, amount of moisture, and frost dates, also play a big role in stand establishment. A major benefit to interseeding is that since you are seeding at an earlier date, your cover crop variety options are vast. I recommend growers check out the Cover Crop Selector Tool from the Midwest Cover Crops Council at mccc.msu.edu. The tool does a nice job identifying suitable options that fit a grower’s unique situation. Location, previous crop, planting date, drainage and grower goals are all taken into consideration. When possible, it’s preferable for growers to use a mix or blend of cover crops for optimal soil health benefit.

What are postharvest options? If interseeding isn’t an option, cover crops can be successfully planted following harvest. In my experience, a drilled or planted cover crop has resulted in excellent stand establishment. I have also seen good success when cover crops are broadcasted on the surface and lightly worked in with a vertical tillage tool. Many times, we will add potash as a carrier.

The downside here is that with a later planting date, you are limited on varieties that will have enough time to get established. In most years, cereal rye is probably your best bet for a postharvest cover. I have seen cereal rye planted in late November still get established and continue to grow throughout the winter months before really coming on in the spring. It’s recommended that at least one species of your cover crop overwinters. Research has shown that in some instances, a cover crop that winter-kills can bring nutrients to the surface and expose them to potential runoff, once the cover crop dies.

What about herbicides? Whether planting in-crop or after harvest, be sure to review your residual herbicide program prior to planting your cover crop. There have been many instances observed where a grower plants a fall cover crop and gets a very poor stand, only to find out that his residual herbicide influenced his cover crop stand. The University of Wisconsin has put together an excellent chart that shows herbicide rotation restrictions for cover crops.

What are some spring management considerations? When terminating a cover crop ahead of corn, it’s advisable to follow the saying, “When in doubt, take it out.” This timing will depend on each grower’s comfort level, but if you are new to cover crops, it’s suggested to terminate the cover crop at a small growth stage, or about a month before planting. Many times this involves the use of an ATV sprayer due to the wet field conditions during the spring. As growers get more comfortable with cover crops and planting conditions, they can move the termination date closer to the planting date. If you plant into a green cover crop, be sure to scout for insects that may overwinter.

Ahead of soybeans, excellent results have been observed by terminating just before planting and planting into the standing cover crop.

What’s best for termination? There are numerous herbicides that can be used to terminate cover crops. However, I have had good success with using full rates of non-selective herbicides, mainly glyphosate or glufosinate (Liberty). For optimum kill, it’s best to spray on a warm, sunny day. The growth stage at the time of termination can also be a factor in the effectiveness of the kill. We recommend terminating prior to the cover crop entering the reproductive stage for best success.

If you are an experienced cover crop user or thinking about trying cover crops for the first time, it is best to experiment and find what works for your operation. If managed correctly, there are many benefits that can come from cover crops. Start planning your fall cover crop now so you can reap some of the cover crop rewards.

Source: Clint Nester, OhioFarmer