2017 Cover Crop Story Chris & Ryan Lee Fairfax, MN

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1 2017 Cover Crop Story Chris & Ryan Lee Fairfax, MN

2 Why do we invest into cover crops? Improve our soil. Organic Matter, Soil Aggregation, Nutrient Cycling, Water Infiltration Keep our soil. Armor our soil from wind & rain to reduce erosion. Add life to our soil Enhance soil biology: microbes, fungi, and worms Long term sustainability of the land Maintain or enhance soil productivity while attempting to reduce environmental impacts of farming. Enhance yield stability for our cash crops Long term results will enhance profitability for our farm.

3 Why do we invest into cover crops? Contrast the soil quality where we reclaimed an old building site versus the field around it. Our farming practices have weathered the soils we depend on for productivity, stability, water holding capacity and fertility. We need to improve our soil. Clear line in soil health where our farming practices have diminished soil organic matter.

4 2017 Cover Crop Experience Second full year of cover crop integration on our farm Tried several new things: Green Planting Soybeans into Cereal Rye Inter-seeding Cover Crops into Soybeans 100% of our Farm had cover crops seeded Utilized our inter-seeding equipment Are seeing soil improvements already

5 2017 Cover Crop Timeline Our goal is to maximize amount of growing season to have growing plants to stabilize the soil. 32 F 8 months Growing Plants Seeding Cereal Rye Fall May 1 June 1 July 1 Aug 1 Sept 1 Oct 1 Nov 1 Accumulated GDUs: Seeding Activity Cereal Rye Inter-Seeding : Corn Soy Cereal Rye

6 Planting date effects plant and root development. Inter-seeding captures more growing season for cover crop development. Root growth is often more impressive than vegetation

7 Cover Crop Species Corn Inter-seeding: (Shade Tolerant) Annual Rye, Barsica Rape, Crimson Clover, Balansa Clover Soybean Inter-seeding: Annual Rye, Barsica Rape, Crimson Clover, Balansa Clover Following Corn for Planting Green: Cereal Rye

8 Planting Green - Soybeans We committed 40 acres to try green planting soybeans. 56 lbs/acre cereal rye was seeded fall of 2016 on corn ground with vertical tillage completed. Rye germinated fall 2016 with growth developing late March Rye stands were good with growth reaching inches at soybean planting. Cereal Rye was terminated following planting. We sprayed Roundup & Dual for pre-emergence weed control

9 Planting Green - Soybeans No Pre-Emergence Herbicide necessary when you green plant at this stage. Terminated rye will suppress weeds.

10 What Did We Learn? Visual differences were observed in the first half of the growing season. These difference were detected right from emergence with the tilled soils emerging more quickly. Yield differences were not observed in 2017.

11 Shade Tolerant Balsana Clover Barsica Rape Annual Rye Crimson Clover Species Identified

12 Shade Tolerant Balsana Clover Annual Rye Species Identified Crimson Clover Barsica Rape

13 Inter-seeding Corn - June Herbicide Program Pre - Dual with spring fertilizer (2016 Pre SureStart) Post oz Callisto with Roundup or - 4 oz Status with Roundup Seeding Waited a week after post emergence treatment. About V6 Corn Inter-seeded with 28% N application Broadcast application Interseeder 15 lbs/acre

14 Inter-seeding Soybeans - August Herbicide Program Pre - Dual/Roundup Burndown Post 22 oz Xtendimax & Roundup Seeding R5 Soybean Stage Pod Fill Inter-seeded with 28% N applicator Broadcast application Interseeder 15 lbs/acre

15 What Did We Learn? Planting Green Visual differences were observed in the first half of the growing season. These difference were detected right from emergence with the tilled soils emerging more quickly. Yield differences were not observed in Protected soil from early season rain.

16 What Did We Learn? Inter-seeding Soybeans August 1 was ideal timing for seeding in Early enough to establish well, beat the wind storm that lodged the soybeans. Harvest was later and worried about cover crop growth interfering with harvest. We gave the cover crops a haircut. No harvest problems at all.

17 What Did We Learn? Inter-seeding Corn Mid June seeding worked okay this year. In a drier environment after seeding we learned it only took a few tenths rain to get the broadleaf species germinated. Grass didn t establish until more significant rain arrived. Will diversify mix with additional species next year. Cover crops adsorb sun and reduce soil heating and evaporation levels. Cover crops displaced weeds in open areas of the field.

18 2017 Cover Crop Experience Chris and Ryan Lee Weather Influences Cover Crop Success! 2016 Excellent season long moisture enhanced stand establishment of corn inter-seeded cover crops. Fall temperatures were above average which enhanced growth on cover crops all the way till mid November! Dry June and July reduced stand establishment and reduced growth. - A cool August and a cool fall season limited growth and establishment on later inter-seeding attempts. Aug 1 was ideal for soybeans interseeding in 2017 vs the mid/late August (leaf drop on soybeans). Early September cover crop direct seeding worked well on sweetcorn/silage ground even with the cooler fall.

19 Below ground Results Soil structure shows improvements already. Cover crops and reduced tillage enhance soil health attributes. Note soil aggregation rather than blocky structure.

20 Below ground Results Soil structure shows improvements already. Cover crops and reduced tillage enhance soil health attributes. Note soil aggregation rather than blocky structure. Root growth helps drive soil aggregation

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