Cover crop questions

We have not been seeding cover crops but I am hearing a lot of good things, doing a little research.

I have a couple of questions?

What is the seeding rate and price per acre range?

Are there any downsides?

How much benefit do you think you get from growing a cover crop?

Is there a good source of information on the web you can recommend.

Thanks for your help.

Author : av1

Date Posted : 10/27/2014 7:08:07 AM

Re: Cover crop questions

Report this Message | Reply to this Message

What is the seeding rate and price per acre range?
SEEDING RATES DEPEND ON THE SPECIES SELECTED. HIGH QUALITY RADISH, FOR EXAMPLE, IS 6 POUNDS PER ACRE WHEN PLANTED BY ITSELF. THIS RATE GOES DOWN TO 2 POUNDS PER ACRE WHEN INTERSEEDED WITH WINTER WHEAT. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT RATES CAN VARY DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU’RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.

Are there any downsides?
ANY DOWNSIDES TO SEEDING COVER CROPS ARE GENERALLY BASED ON TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH TOO SOON. PRIOR TO WORLD WAR 2, FARMERS USED COVER CROPS RATHER THAN CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS, WHICH WERE NOT WIDELY AVAILABLE LIKE THEY ARE TODAY. THEY LEARNED BY EXPERIENCE AND FROM THEIR FATHERS ON THE FARM WHICH COVER CROPS WORKED BEST ON THEIR LAND. TODAY AS WE SEE A RETURN TO SOME OF THESE PRACTICES, AND LEARNING IS STILL REQUIRED. TRYING SMALL PLOTS OF A NUMBER OF SPECIES IS A GREAT WAY TO GET SOME FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE SPECIFIC TO YOUR FARM. THERE ARE ONLINE SOURCES OF INFORMATION TO HELP SHORTEN THE LEARNING CURVE.

How much benefit do you think you get from growing a cover crop?
COVER CROPS PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF BENEFITS. THESE INCLUDE BUT AREN’T LIMITED TO: COMPACTION RELIEF, YIELD BOOST, REDUCED FERTILIZER REQUIREMENTS, EROSION CONTROL, NUTRIENT “CATCH AND RELEASE”, WINTER ANNUAL WEED SUPPRESSION, BETTER WATER INFILTRATION, BIODIVERSITY TO HELP ADD PEST AND DISEASE RESISTANCE AND MORE.

THE BENEFIT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE COMMERCIAL RESOURCE GUIDE LINKED BELOW, LOOK ON PAGE 32 FOR A LIST OF BENEFITS.
THEN YOU CAN ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION: WHAT AM I TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH?

Is there a good source of information on the web you can recommend.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS A WIDE RANGE OF INFORMATION HERE:
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/soils/health/

THIS LINK TAKES YOU TO THE MIDWEST COVER CROPS COUNCIL, WHICH COVERS ONTARIO.
http://www.mccc.msu.edu

FOR SEED SOURCING, YOU CAN TRY HERE.
http://covercropsolutions.com

THIS TAKES YOU TO A 48 PAGE RESOURCE GUIDE FOR COMMERCIAL COVER CROP SEED, WIDELY AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA. THE DOWNLOAD TAKES A MINUTE, SO BE PATIENT.
http://covercropsolutions.com/documents/literature/tillage-radish-resource-guide.pdf

Thanks for your help.
YOU’RE WELCOME.

Regards,
Mark Nicolas

Date Posted : 10/27/2014 11:06:36 AM

Re: Cover crop questions

Report this Message | Reply to this Message

Agree with the last reply, Seeding Rates Depend On The Species Selected!

Link/URL: http://www.trivediscience.com/agriculture/

Author : Phil

Date Posted : 11/10/2014 8:07:16 AM

AgPhD Cover crop video

Report this Message | Reply to this Message

Date Posted : 11/22/2014 6:07:06 PM

If you already have a Farms.com account, pleaselogin first. If you do not have a Farms.com account you can post using the form below.

Topic: *	Please enter Topic
Display Name: *	Please enter Display Name
E-mail: *	Please enter Email Address Not a valid email Your E-mail address will not be displayed to users. Only your Display Name will be visible.
Password:	If you allready have a Farms.com account, please enter your password. If you do not have an account, you can leave this field blank
Message: *	Please enter Message
Link/URL:	Please enter valid Link/URL
Verify Your Chat:	Enter the code in the image

Sponsored Links: Highest Yielding Soybeans,PigCHAMP Grow-Finish,Precision Agriculture, Swine Reproduction Software,