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SUBSCRIBECover Crops
Covercropping/ arid areas
Post At
03/18/2007 - 4:19 pm
reply from
Greg Seamands
We're no-tilling now for about 4 years in SW N.Dakota. Reading about cover crops and learning, yet I'm wondering in an area where our limiting factor is moisture (we're in 6 years of drought) how beneficial are cover crops in our area where we strive to conserve as much water as we can. No irrigation here.
Reply at
03/27/2007 - 2:00 pm
reply from
Dan Towery
Greg,
Cover crops may still have a place in your area. Proper selection and management is critical so that soil moisture is not lost. There is no simple answer but I would begin by searching out other no-till farmers in your area that are successful with cover crops.
Cover crops may still have a place in your area. Proper selection and management is critical so that soil moisture is not lost. There is no simple answer but I would begin by searching out other no-till farmers in your area that are successful with cover crops.
Reply at
03/28/2007 - 8:05 am
reply from
Ed Winkle
There is much interest in cover crops to conserve moisture, convert essential elements and keep the soil "energized." As one experienced farmer said in Pa at the NoTill Alliance meeting, the dying cover crop roots give energy to the soil and the new crop. Good way to put it.
Annual rye is number one around here, oats are popular, forage radishes are gaining momentum from much success and interest.
The cover should be cheap, easy to establish, easy to kill. The big management factor is getting it all done.
I think a lot of farmers don't even get all the lime on they need around here let alone establish a cover crop.
For best yields, it all needs to be done!
Good luck in your quest for covers in ND.
I think they could pay you good rewards.
Ed
Annual rye is number one around here, oats are popular, forage radishes are gaining momentum from much success and interest.
The cover should be cheap, easy to establish, easy to kill. The big management factor is getting it all done.
I think a lot of farmers don't even get all the lime on they need around here let alone establish a cover crop.
For best yields, it all needs to be done!
Good luck in your quest for covers in ND.
I think they could pay you good rewards.
Ed
Reply at
03/23/2009 - 8:08 am
reply from
bob balbi
Greg, I am in se Montana and I share your interest and concerns. We are typically even a little drier than you are (13" 100 year average). I've talked with nrcs about cover cropping and they're all for it, but I'm not sure about it. If we seed the cover crop in August behind the combine, there would be absolutely no moisture to seed into, and I have my doubts as to whether the old concord air drill would even go into the ground. Secondly, on a normal summer weather pattern, the seed may lay there for 60 days w/o any measureable precip. on it and wouldn't actually germinate and sprout until fall freezing season in upon us. At $20/acre for these cover crop cocktail mixes, I have my doubts as to whether cover crops would be a feasible idea in this environment.
I'm going to try a few acres this year with grazing in mind, but it will be very few until I see results. The lady running the nrcs in Baker, MT is very knowledgeable on cover cropping, and she got a couple producers to do some over there this year. I'll be checking back with her to see how that is working outl
It's hard to find fellow drylanders on this forum. I've found most producers on this forum are from the midwest, where their dryland will grow corn and soybeans. We are in a little different world, and it's nice to exchange ideas w/in my own environment.
I'm going to try a few acres this year with grazing in mind, but it will be very few until I see results. The lady running the nrcs in Baker, MT is very knowledgeable on cover cropping, and she got a couple producers to do some over there this year. I'll be checking back with her to see how that is working outl
It's hard to find fellow drylanders on this forum. I've found most producers on this forum are from the midwest, where their dryland will grow corn and soybeans. We are in a little different world, and it's nice to exchange ideas w/in my own environment.
Reply at
03/24/2009 - 10:38 am
reply from
Ed Winkle
We all need to visit Dwayne Beck at the Dakota Lakes Research Farm. He can show us it works.
Reply at
03/25/2009 - 5:36 am
reply from
Matt Hagny
This article on Gabe Brown at Bismark, ND, might be a help:
http://www.notill.org/LE_Articles/V5N3A1_Brown.pdf
-- Not all his "cover crops" are grazed. The effects of cocktails/mixtures in the drought of '06 were remarkable.
In Montana, I would expect that cover crops would be most appropriate to replace a chemfallow (summerfallow). On wet years, there might be some advantages after wheat harvest for fields going to corn the following year. I doubt a Concord shank-type opener would do very good with these small-seeded crops.
best regards,
==========
Matt Hagny
consulting agronomist since '94,
founder Exapta Solutions ('99)
http://www.notill.org/LE_Articles/V5N3A1_Brown.pdf
-- Not all his "cover crops" are grazed. The effects of cocktails/mixtures in the drought of '06 were remarkable.
In Montana, I would expect that cover crops would be most appropriate to replace a chemfallow (summerfallow). On wet years, there might be some advantages after wheat harvest for fields going to corn the following year. I doubt a Concord shank-type opener would do very good with these small-seeded crops.
best regards,
==========
Matt Hagny
consulting agronomist since '94,
founder Exapta Solutions ('99)
