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).

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) officials each year report an increased adoption of conservation practices, such as cover crops. However, there is still room for growth. Today we focus on growth, which is dependent on one’s comfort level. Read more in this article from KIWA Radio (Sheldon, IA).

Mitchell Hora walks to a field on his family’s southeast Iowa farm, where 5-inch-high soybeans grow in alternating rows with 4-foot-tall cereal rye. The 25-year-old admits that combining the two crops would make most farmers freak out. Read more in this article from The Hawk Eye (Burlington, IA).

Alison Robertson, Professor and Extension Field Crops Pathologist with Iowa State University discusses why cereal rye is a vector for diseases in corn, why timing of planting corn after cereal rye is very important, how pythium impacts corn yields, and more.

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.

Can you name 10 species of cover crops? No, this isn’t a riddle — it’s actually easier than you think. An easy place to start: cereal rye.

Cereal rye (Secale cereale) has several strengths as a cover crop option. However, in most cases, rye doesn’t put on much growth until the month of May. Read more in this article from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs.

With the shortage and increasing price of quality hay and an increase in straw prices as well, spring of 2020 may be a season to harvest our winter cereal crops as either hay or straw, depending on your needs. Recent auction reports have hay averaging over $200/T (up to $350 in one report) and straw averaging $150/T. Read more in this article from the Akron Beacon Journal.

As more and more farms find different ways to utilize their land, one Minnesota farm is using soil health practices to help them out. Connor McCormick, who farms just outside of Caledonia along with his dad Kevin, said their first time using a cover crop – cereal rye – turned out pretty good. Read more in this article from the Caledonia Argus (Houston County, MN).