Earlier this season, a lack of soil moisture across much of the state raised concerns about the potential for successful cover crop establishment this fall. Most areas still need more moisture to recharge the soil profile but recent rains have improved the moisture status overall. This has also improved the likelihood for successful establishment of a cereal rye cover crop this fall. Read more in this article from University of Minnesota Extension.

Now is the time to make plans for cover crop planting if you have not already done so. There are several cover crop species that are often talked about, however, cereal rye, oats and radish are the most commonly used cover crops. Read more in this article from Iowa State University.

Cereal rye ahead of soybean is not nearly as problematic. While planting green may not be advised for beginning cover crop users, more experienced cover crop users have planted soybean into green cereal rye. Read more in this article from Farm Forum.

In this video from the Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education program, Larry Thompson, a grower from Damascus, Ore., farms 120 acres of 30-40 organic crops. The operation has been using covers since the 1960s to improve soil tilth.

A fall-planted cereal rye cover crop can have both positive and negative impacts, for example by tying up nitrogen, reducing soil moisture prior to planting, increasing insect pressure, reducing weed pressure, reducing soil erosion and allelopathy. The spring rains in 2021 and warming soil temperatures are encouraging cereal rye and wheat cover crops to take off. Read more in this article from University of Nebraska Extension.

Cover crops can serve as a useful tool of an integrated weed management program. Research at the University of Nebraska has shown that cover crops such as cereal rye can provide good control of winter annual weeds and other troublesome species like horseweed, and also provide early-season suppression of summer annual weeds like waterhemp.

On paper, adding a cover crop to a farming production system looks simple enough: plant a small grain such as cereal rye as soon as the cash crop harvest is done; let it grow, then terminate it prior to planting in the spring. But farmers and agronomists know it’s not that simple. Read more in this article from Ohio's Country Journal.

An idea that started with the curiosity of an enterprising south-central Kentucky farmer is showing promise as another crop for Kentucky small grain producers, as well as a reliable source of Kentucky-grown cereal rye for bourbon distillers, bakers and millers. In a state long recognized for its progressive farmers, the Halcomb family of Walnut Grove Farms in Logan County are known as some of the most innovative. Read more in this article from the Sentinel-Echo (London, KY).

Many farmers planted a full season cover crop on their prevented planting acres or are out there now planting a winter annual, like cereal rye. This is a great management approach because you’ve either managed water in those fields similar to what you would have done with a cash crop or you will be managing water next spring with cereal rye planted this fall. Read more in this article from AgWeek.

A few wheat fields scouted this summer were found with volunteer rye infested with ergot. It is becoming more common to see cereal rye being grown as a cover crop or for seed for the cover crop market. Read more in this article from South Dakota State University Extension.