Planting is for harvest, too
When you think fall, you think harvest. But in today’s world, fall is for planting, too, especially when it comes to cover crops. That’s why Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) offers reduced rental rates in the fall for farmers to plant cover crops using their no-till drills.
“Especially in the hills of Ashland County, cover crops are vital tools to protect soil after harvest from erosion,” said Erica White, Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) technician and Jerome Fork watershed coordinator. “Cover crops can reduce the risk of erosion, increase water infiltration, build organic matter, and increase the amount of carbon available in your soil—all of which are important when it comes to managing soil health.”
That’s why Ashland SWCD has a long-standing tradition of having no-till drills available for rent to area farmers. The district currently rents two drills, both 2018 John Deere models in a10-foot width and a 15-foot width. Both drills rent for just $10 per acre in the fall with a minimum charge of $100 for the 10-foot drill and $200 for the 15-foot drill.
“We want to encourage farmers to plant cover crops, and offering our drills at reduced rental rates is one way we can encourage that without requiring farmers to make a big initial investment in equipment,” White said. “Cover crops offer a multitude of benefits to the farmer and their long-term soil health, and we love working with farmers to help them figure out how cover crop management can work in their operation.”
This year, Ashland SWCD was able to bring several cover crop cost share opportunities to Ashland County farmers, including cost share from the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, the Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative for beginning cover crop users, and a farmer-funded aerial cover crop seeding. However, not all farmers are comfortable with aerial seeding, so fall drilling after harvest is a good fit for their operations.
Drill rental is managed by White, who can be reached by phone at 419-281-7645. White can make arrangements with local farmers to schedule drill rental and contract signing on a time schedule that works for them during the busy spring planting season.
For additional information on Ashland SWCD’s equipment rental program, visit the Ashland SWCD website at www.AshlandSWCD.com or the district’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AshlandSWCD
Ashland SWCD was named the 2020 Soil and Water Conservation District of the Year by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.