As a cover crop, cereal rye brings a lot to the table. It improves soil structure, builds organic matter, and protects against water and wind erosion. It’s also relatively inexpensive, can be seeded late, enhances weed control and is easy to kill.

That makes it a nice fit for cash crop producers looking for a cover crop to seed after corn or soybean harvest, says Jake Munroe, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs soil fertility specialist.

The only significant challenge cereal rye poses is determining when to terminate the crop when planting soys.