Timing
Agricultural producers should plan to complete the bulk of crop harvest by mid-fall to allow adequate time for a cover crop to establish before winter.
For producers who wait to harvest until late fall or winter, this cover crop application method may not be appropriate.
Equipment
Air seeders installed onto combines can seed cover crops during harvest. Installation will require substantial creativity and ingenuity; there are few kits designed for this purpose.
The seeder can be manually calibrated or controlled by a variable-speed drive. Ideally, the seeder automatically adjusts seed volume based on the speed of the combine to achieve an even application rate. Plastic tubing routed under the combine transports ryegrass seed from the seeder to the soil surface where it is subsequently covered up by straw and chaff from the corn head.
Pros
- One pass through the field minimizes fuel cost and soil compaction.
- Very low cost.
Cons
- Harvest will be interrupted by the need to refill cover crop seed hopper.
- It is difficult to achieve even seed distribution over headlands and end rows.
Bottom Line
- For farmers who are good with mechanics, like to tinker, and can accept somewhat spotty cover crop establishment, this is a good, low cost option that saves time and additional field passes.
Anticipate an initial investment of at least $15,000 for seeding equipment, although lower cost options do exist.
Seeding Recommendation
The ideal cover crop species will be cold hardy and aggressive enough to establish under and through thick residues. Coated annual ryegrass and cereal grains are suitable for a later season broadcast application.
No-Till Drilling
No-till drills place cover crop seed in the ground.
Timing
Drill cover crops as soon as possible after harvesting the cash crop.
Did You Know? Low Cost Drill Rental Options
Many soil conservation districts and agricultural non-profits have no-till drills available for rent at a reduced rate.
Equipment
No-till drills use opening disks to create a narrow slot into which the cover crop seed is dropped. The slot is firmed or closed by some form of closing mechanism. When considering purchasing or borrowing a drill to plant cover crop consider the following:
Size: Drills travel slowly — not more than 3-5 mph depending on soil conditions. A wider drill will enable the farmer to cover more acres faster.
Weight: Increase drill weight to improve soil penetration and residue cutting.
Attachments: Replace disk-opener blades when the diameters are worn 1/2 inch from original size. Consider upgraded closing wheels.
Seeding Rate
Cover crops seeded with a no-till drill have uniform seeding depth and adequate seed-to-soil contact. As a result farmers can expect excellent germination from all cover crop species regardless of seed size.
Pros
- Excellent germination and stand for most species.
- Requires lowest
seeding rate.
Cons
- Slow — depending on drill size, farmers can expect to only plant 100-200 acres a day.
Bottom Line
- Drilling is the most reliable and most common tool to establish cover crop.
Low Seeding Rate: Seeding rate should be kept on the lower end to prevent cover crops from becoming too thick and creating problems when it’s time to plant the primary crop — especially annual ryegrass — because it can be overwhelming and choke other crops.
Expert Recommendation
- 10 lb/acre Ryegrass
- 30 lb/acre Cereal Rye
- 3 lb/acre Crimson Clover
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