Cover planting dates

By Ryan Huelsmann Soil-Right Cover Crops Specialist:

Early Establishment is key.  As we roll through August and look toward September, it is important to meticulously plan your cover crops planting dates.  In most cases the earlier the better.  Drilling the seed right behind the combine allows for the best seed to soil contact.  However, in a wet year like this one harvest may be delayed more than normal, subsequently delaying cover crop planting.  To effectively utilize cover crops, a grower should get them established as early as 2 to 3 weeks before the first killing frost. (28 Degrees F)  Research trials have show that there is a direct correlation between early establishment and soil nitrate take-up by ryegrass.  Ryegrass accumulates as much as 120 pounds of nitrogen per acre when established 2 to 3 weeks before a killing frost.  Early seeding may require aerial seeding this year, and possibly even in "normal" years, (if those still occur.)  When thinking of cover crops do not think about what to plant until you think about what you want to accomplish when you plant them.  Do you want to control erosion?  Build soil tilth and organic matter?  Bust up a tillage pan? Scavenge or add N?  All of these things can be accomplished with various cover crops.  Don't get too hung up on what to plant.  The fact that you are planting something to cover the soil in the winter is the main idea.