An agronomist says the dry fall has made seeding cover crops a challenge.

Consider herbicide carryover injury potential and rotation interval restrictions when seeding cover crops this fall.

One of the cornerstones of regenerative agriculture is to have plants growing in the soil for as many days of the year as possible. While today’s agronomic practices are predominately based on using annual cash crops, it is an opportunity to get cover cropping into the management fold.

Some companies, such as Bayer, are paying Midwestern farmers $10 per acre to seed cover crops in fields going to seed corn production next spring.

One of the benefits cover crops can offer growers is to choke out weeds, including the dreaded waterhemp. Gregg Johnson, an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota, will discuss which how cover crops can be used as a weed management tool during the 2021 Fall National Cover Crop Summit.

I’ve heard many farmers express frustration with late-summer or fall planted cover crops that didn’t take off as expected. Of course, the main reason we witnessed slow fall growth in much of the state was lack of moisture, a stark comparison from many areas last year! Read more in this article from the Brookings Register (Brookings, SD).

Farmers are feeling optimistic about the future, and many are planning to include cover crops in that bright future, according to information recently published by the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.

As we approach the fall cover crop planting season, the industry is starting to see shortages of a few different crops like radishes, hairy vetch and annual clovers due to the record amount of acreage that was planted last year as part of USDA’s prevent plant program. What we typically see in shortage situations is that seed will still be available to producers – however, it may be bottom of the bin in terms of quality and can carry a lot of risks. Read more in this article from Go Seed.