Tips for Terminating Cover Crops

With planting season around the corner, cover crops will be transforming previously snowy fields into springtime green – just in time for termination. But when is the right time and with what method should you terminate? It largely comes down to the individual vegetative and mature stages of different cover crops and row crops.

For rye, delaying termination until after planting is important so that high-carbon rye residue doesn’t interfere with the soil’s ability to dry after rain. Standing rye is easier to plant through than terminated rye, especially with the levels needed for weed control.

Termination of annual ryegrass can include an herbicide program but should never include a roller-crimper. With roots as far as 5 feet beneath the soil surface, be ready for resistance to your termination strategy.

Read more on cover crops and terminating ryegrass here.