Although many growers may consider the “ideal” time to plant cover crops is immediately after harvest, having snow on the ground is not a reason to give up on utilizing the benefits cover crops can offer. This is where frost seeding comes into play as a cover crop seeding method.

Cover crop seeds are small and hardy, which means good seed-to-soil contact can be established through the soil’s up and down movement as it freezes and thaws. There is no need for tillage when frost seeding is used.

Sjoerd Duiker, pictured, a professor of soil management and soil physics at Penn State University, will discuss the best cover crop species to use for frost seeding at the online National Cover Crop Summit: Fall 2020 Edition. His presentation will also cover the preferred timing for frost seeding and how to effectively plant cover crop seeds when frost seeding for optimum results.

Duiker

The National Cover Crop Summit: Fall Edition will be held Nov. 17-18, 2020, through an interactive and educational online format that allows attendees to watch pre-recorded on-demand sessions at their convenience. It features a diverse learning program of speakers addressing cover crop topics including aerial seeding, feeding livestock cover crops through the winter, incorporating cover crops into crop rotations, and more.

To provide attendees with an educational experience to fit their specific needs and schedule, there are two registration options for this event:

  • Attendees can register for free and gain access to 6 National Cover Crop Summit presentations for 2 days only, November 17-18
  • A VIP upgrade is available for $49 and gives attendees 12 months of access to all 6 event presentations, access to top-rated sessions from past National Cover Crop Summits, plus a package of valuable attendee freebies including 4 cover crop management reports offering practical tips and ideas on a variety of critical cover crop topics. Registration and program details can be found here.

Title sponsors making the National Cover Crop Summit possible include Montag Mfg., Yetter Farm Equipment, KB Seed Solutions, Kelly Tillage System, MidWest Bio-Tech, and Underground Agriculture.