Dear
Jeff,
I was unable to plant a cover crop (rye) on some land this
fall that I intended to roll and plant soybeans into next
spring. Can I still plant the rye or a suitable cover crop
this coming spring? I live in southwestern Ohio. If rye grain
isn't suitable in the spring, what do you recommend?
Thanks again,
Vaughn A. Jackson
Ohio
Dear Vaughn,
This is a good question, one which several farmers before
you have asked. I’m not sure when you plan on rolling,
but spring-planted rye generally doesn’t produce as
much biomass as fall planted does. This can lead to poor kill
rate and lack of sufficient ground cover to prevent weeds
from expressing themselves. You could try a heavy seeding
of spring oats (at least 3 bu/ac) planted as early as possible,
but your rolling may well be delayed to the first or second
week of June. You could also try something like field peas,
spring barley, or even buckwheat. Send me an email on what
you decide to plant, then let me know how it works out so
I can share your experience with others. This is a relatively
new technology for all of us, and we have a lot to learn.
Good luck,
Jeff
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