Seeding Practices

[Video] Three Reasons to Use Covers

Barry Martin plants peanuts, cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat and grain sorghum, and uses strip till. Rye is his main cover crop, which he burns down before planting peanuts to minimize problems with the cornstalk borer, which appears to thrive in heavy vegetation.
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Get Double Benefits with Cover Crops as Forages

Many cover crop species can be used as forage while also providing soil health benefits, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff, including hay, baleage and grazing. The type of cover crops to plant depends on your ultimate goal for those cover crops, as that goal can affect seeding rates, planting dates, and fertility.




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Interseeded Alfalfa

Interseeding Alfalfa as a Cover Crop

John Grabber, a research agronomist for the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, presented on interseeding alfalfa into corn silage at World Dairy Expo on Wednesday, October 2. “The reason we’re trying to develop this system is to take care of several issues or shortcomings we have with corn and corn silage/alfalfa rotations,” said Grabber. Read more in this article from Hoard's Dairyman.
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Planting Cover Crops After Small Grain Harvest

Typically, double cropping done after small grains is planting soybeans in wheat stubble, but not always, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff. Some growers plant a crop after barley, oats or other small grain crops, and cover crops are a viable choice for planting in late summer. The amount of precipitation is also a factor in deciding whether to plant cover crops after small grains. The type of cover crop planted can also play a role in helping increase yields the following growing year.




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Using Soil Health Tests

Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff says that in the past 5-10 years, soil health testing has grown in popularity, but they aren’t a silver bullet for detecting all soil health problems. In this podcast, learn about the different types of soil tests available, what they can measure and why each one is important.
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Grazing

White Clover an Important Pasture Legume

Four-leaved clovers may or may not bring good luck. What’s indisputable is that all white clovers, whether with three or four leaves, have many benefits. USDA calls white clover “one of the most important pasture legumes.” In New Zealand, it is one of the main species, along with ryegrass, grown in pastures.
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Maximizing Legume Cover Crops for Less Nitrogen Use

Managing legumes as a cover crop requires smart decision making, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff. From choosing the best nitrogen-producing species and planting legumes as early as possible to using winter hardy selections and planting into green legumes, Groff shares best practices for getting the most out your covers while using less nitrogen.




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The National No-Tillage Conference returns January 9-12, 2024! Build and refine your no-till system with dozens of new ideas and connections at the 32nd Annual National No-Tillage Conference in Indianapolis, Ind. Jan. 9-12, 2024. Experience an energizing 4-day agenda featuring inspiring general session speakers, expert-led No-Till Classrooms and collaborative No-Till Roundtables. Plus, Certified Crop Adviser credits will be offered.

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