Broadcast seeds do not have good seed-soil contact, which reduces the seed’s ability to take up water necessary for germination. Stand counts of broadcast cover crops are often lower than those of drilled cover crops. Could increasing the seeding rate overcome low stand counts and improve cover crop productivity?

While planting cover crops after harvest with a drill or planter may be the most convenient, there are several other planting methods that can increase cover crop success as measured by biomass production.

A recent study by North Dakota State University researchers helps farmers determine strategy for growing winter rye as preceding cover crop for dry bean.

Daryl Obermeyer had already implemented cover cropping practices in his operation before the NRCS and On-Farm Research study started. He used this study to validate what he was doing and get concrete data and results of what was really happening.

Transitioning to organic, Noah Wendt and Caleb Akin are closely planning for success in three areas: nutrients for the following crop, weed control and grazing opportunities. In this article, from the Practical Farmers of Iowa, Noah and Caleb talk specifically about summer covers and a few new practices they're testing on their farm.