The decision on when to terminate cover crops may affect the overall yield of the upcoming cash crop. Research is showing that a later termination may result in a lower overall yield. However, that doesn’t mean early termination is right for your field.

In this Practical Farmers of Iowa blog, ISU graduate student and researcher Dana Jokela writes about using a roller-crimper to terminate cereal rye.

Spraying cereal rye with common burndown products (glyphosate, paraquat, etc) prior to ryelage harvest is illegal. Consequently, termination of cereal rye that has been harvested for forage is best managed with post-harvest herbicide applications. Glyphosate is a more effective burndown option than paraquat for post-harvest termination of cereal rye.

Drought has been prevalent in the northern and western portions of the Corn Belt in recent growing seasons, while southern parts of the Midwest have seen flooding. Cover crops impact both wet and dry soils in the spring.