We have the tools you need for cover crop success!
The temperatures are on the rise, and it is great to see the fields getting some more color. The green from cover crops above the ground is just as beautiful as the benefits cover crops create below the ground. This spring would be a great time to investigate the advantages of using a roller-crimper to terminate cover crops for even more benefits!
A roller crimper has blunt steel blades spaced roughly 7-10 inches apart, as the crimper rolls across the field the blades “crimp” or injure the plant stems to terminate plant growth. When crimping, timing is important to be effective, it must be done before the head goes to seed.
When a cover crop is being terminated by a crimper there are several advantages beyond just mechanically terminating. It helps suppress weeds by forming a mulch cover, decreases hot summer soil temperatures, conserves soil moisture, decreases soil erosion, and adds organic matter. With crimping, it can also lessen the use of herbicides such as glyphosate.
Cover crop termination isn’t the only planning that can be considered this time of year. Planting season is right around the corner and you can plan to interseeding cover crops this spring as well. Interseeding takes preparation for timing and research of seed variety for what works best on your farm. Research shows when cover crops are planted into corn at V6 growth stage, the cover crops do not compete with the corn crop.
Variety selection can be one of the biggest challenges. When considering seed variety, a shade-tolerant seed is necessary. Annual ryegrass and red clover have worked well in trials from Penn State where radish, cowpeas, and hairy vetch have not worked well since they are not very shade tolerant.
Nutrient benefits can also come with interseeding cover crops when seed selection is done carefully. Legumes can fix atmospheric nitrogen and help feed the corn crop but again varieties matter, and it could be a gamble to use a Variety Not Stated (VNS) seed.
Ashland Soil & Water Conservation District has a 15- foot I&J roller crimper and an interseeder in ourequipment rental program. The roller crimper and interseeder were both purchased with funds from a Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) Partners in Watershed Grant. With these both being awarded to Ashland SWCD through the MWCD Partners in Watershed Grant it is a great opportunity for producers to be able to put these practices into use with low or no rental cost.
On March 21, 2024, at 6 pm Ashland Soil & Water will host a meeting along with Medina SWCD and Wayne SWCD at Valley Vista Farm in Jeromesville. It will be focused on cover crops and H2Ohio. Cody from Bird Agronomics will discuss cover crop seed selections for interseeding and aerial seeding, Kip Studer will be going over the new H2Ohio Program rollout, and Jason Ruhl will discuss NRCS cost share opportunities. We will have a farmer discussion panel with their experiences.
Come with questions for any or all the speakers, the more the merrier. For any further information contact Katie Eikleberry with Ashland SWCD at 419-281-7645