What is Your Go-To Equipment for Seeding Cover Crops in a Timely Manner? Why Does This Work Best?

A: I have a Montag Mfg. air cart for dry fertilizer that I’m using to plant cereal rye in 30-inch rows after corn harvest — at least until it gets too wet — then I’ll go back to broadcast surface application. It always works.

The idea is to have a thicker stand in that 30-inch band because next spring the soybeans in 15-inch rows will be only 7½ inches off of the root mass created. For the soybean ground after harvest I’ll still broadcast barley and cereal rye for ground cover and plant corn the following year. 

— Gene Witte, Decatur, Ind.

A: We use an airplane for seeding. I can get everything seeded much earlier for better fall growth and winter survivability. You need to watch canopy for sunlight hitting the ground, and also need a good rainfall event just before or just after application to ensure a good stand. It works great if you pay attention to details.

— Peter Fandel, East Peoria, Ill.

A: We put a 15-foot John Deere 750 drill behind a Case IH 4430 tractor and keep it running. We usually seed about 700 acres of cover crops and this machine works best because it’s very simple to operate and can handle bin-run wheat at a rate of 1 bushel per acre without plugging. This drill does a great job of getting seeds into the ground and also mulches the residue a bit.

— Adam Osswald, Eaton, Ohio

A: I use my interseeder/sidedresser, called…

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