2013 Winter Grain and Fall Cover Crops

Transcription

1 2013 Winter Grain and Fall Cover Crops COVER CROPS FALL GRAZING WINTER GRAINS

2 Hard Red Winter Wheat Hard Red Winter Wheat is planted in the fall generally West of the Mississippi River and harvested in early summer for the production of all purpose flour. Winter wheat can typically yield bu/acre Expedition (O,C) - Expedition is a very high yielding variety with good quality. It is excellent standing making it a good choice for high management fields (high populations, heavy soils, high fertility). Good winter hardiness. Released by South Dakota. Arapahoe (C) - Arapahoe has the longest track record in the upper Midwest. It is a tough variety that has proven winter hardiness and consistent yields. Ideal (C) - Ideal is a new variety developed from over 10 years of selection by SDSU. Excellent yield potential & disease resistance. Similar maturity to Overland with superior standability. Winter Wheat* (O) - Variety Not Stated (VNS) organic winter wheat. Economical choice for forage or grain. Soft Red Winter Wheat Soft Red Winter Wheat is planted in the fall East of the Mississippi River and harvested in early summer. Its soft endosperm and moderate protein content make it suitable for the production of pastry type flour. W1377 (O) - W1377 is a medium early, beardless, soft red variety from AgriPro. It is widely adapted to all soil types across the northern US. A productive variety with consistent high yields and very good test weight. Excellent disease resistance and very good standability. Limited Quantity. VARIETY Avg. Yields Bu/Ac Growth Characteristics of Winter Wheat Varieties - A- Heading Date Height Inches - B - Winter Hardiness Lodging Rating Test Weight Lbs/Bu Protein Percent - B - Baking Quality - C - Rust Resistance Leaf Stem Arapahoe 64 6/18 MT G-E F G-B MR MR Ideal 70 6/18 M G E F-B MR MR Expedition 70 6/14 M G-E F G-B S R W1377** 74 NA MT G E 55.5 NA NA MR MR Data derived from 2012 SD State variety trials. A) Heading dates derived from SDSU & UMN trials B) E = Excellent, G = Good, F = Fair, P = Poor, B = Baking C) R = Resistant, MR = Moderately Resistant, MS = Moderately Susceptible, S = Susceptible. ** Data from University of WI variety trials (O) Available as organic seed Front Cover: Klaas Martens, Albert Lea Seed House Dealer, near Penn Yan, NY. (C) Available as conventional, untreated seed

3 Winter Wheat Best Practices Drill lbs/acre. Seed about 1 2 inches deep Optimum planting dates for southern MN are September 10 - September 30 Avoid planting winter wheat on corn ground or wheat stubble. Work the soil as black as possible when following sweet corn or corn silage to reduce the likelihood of Scab (Fusarium Head Blight). Planting past the optimum seeding date increases the risk of winter kill and can reduce grain yield. Seeding too early can result in excessive growth in the fall making plants more vulnerable to winter kill and creates a green bridge for a number of winter wheat pests. Watch chemical rotation restrictions. Go to for complete Winter Wheat Best Practices. Winter Barley Winter barley should be planted about two weeks before winter wheat to allow for plenty of growth before freeze up. We cannot guarantee it to be winter hardy in the upper-midwest. Winterkill is more likely in the absence of snow cover. Seed 100 lbs/acre for forage or grain McGregor (C) - A fall-planted, early-maturing Winter Barley with excellent yields, test weight and quality. Provides excellent feed value as a forage. Medium height with very good standability, good disease resistance, and fair winter hardiness. Nora Springs, IA: The idea was to have something green out there in the fall and to have a little bit more of a crop rotation. The McGregor comes real early in the spring and we chop it at early boot stage. We follow that with an early soybean. I seeded between 2½ and 3½ Bu per acre and I am going to increase my seeding rate next year. Winter Triticale Winter triticale is a cross between winter wheat and winter rye that combines the high yield potential, grain quality, and disease resistance of wheat with the winter hardiness and low fertility requirements of rye giving it the best forage quality of all winter grains. It should be cut before it heads out (boot stage) for best forage quality. Seed 100 lbs/ acre for grain or forage. NE426GT (O) - A dual purpose Winter Triticale with very high grain yields coupled with relatively high fall forage yield. Low ergot, medium maturity variety with moderate straw strength, and good winter hardiness. Released by Nebraska. Trical 815 (O) - A superior forage variety with intermediate height and wide cut window. High leaf to stem ratio, good winter survival and high resistance to lodging. Winter Triticale* (C) - VNS Winter Triticale. An economical choice for forage. (O) Available as organic seed (C) Available as conventional, untreated seed * = Variety Not Stated

4 COVER CROPS Prevented Plant & Cover Crops in was a difficult spring for farmers in Southern MN, Western WI, and Northern IA. More than 725,000 acres were put into the Prevented Plant insurance program in Minnesota alone. Despite the challenges, we are confident that proper use and management of cover crops will help farmers stay profitable into the following year. Cover crops are increasingly being recognized for their short-term and long-term positive impact on cash crop yields. A recent SARE survey of over 750 farmers from roughly eighteen states in the upper-midwest found that corn planted after cover crops in 2012 had a 9.6% yield increase compared to side-by-side fields with no cover crops. Soybean yields increased 11.6% over fields with no cover crop use. These yield increases were even more dramatic in states hardest hit by the 2012 drought, with an 11% yield increase for corn and a 14.6% increase for soybeans. Cover crops can fit into any rotation, suit any need and thrive on any field. Albert Lea Seed partners with cover crop breeders and premier seed companies to offer the widest selection and diversity of cover crop seed. General Cover Crop Seeding Recommendations In general, the more diversity you plant, the better the chances of success. We strongly recommend mixes over individual species in most cases. When seeding cover crops, ensure good seed-to-soil contact, proper seeding depth, and adequate soil preparation. Try to time fall cover crop seeding with a forecasted rain if possible. All cover crop options to be harvested for forage are potentially unharvestable by the Prevented Plant November 1 st deadline. NITROGEN-FIXING COVER CROPS Hairy Vetch* (O,C) Viney, winter annual legume most commonly planted as a cover crop. Accumulates significant biomass in the spring and can be a heavy N fixer (up to 100lbs N/acre or more at flowering). Improves soil structure, scavenges P, and competes very well against early season weeds. Can winterkill if planted past recommended dates. We recommend companion seeding hairy vetch with oats, winter rye or another nurse crop to increase winter survival. Plant August 1st September 15th at lbs/acre (straight) or lbs/acre (in mixture). Note: Conventional Hairy Vetch is Oregon production Austrian Winter Peas* (C) Viney, fall-seeded winter annual that is used for grazing, haying, green manure plowdown or grain production (in zone). Can produce 1-2 tons/acre of dry matter & fix lbs N/acre. It is a high-quality forage with protein contents of 14-20%. Generally not considered winter hardy in the upper-midwest; plant early with a nurse crop for best chance of winter survival. Plant August 1st September 1st at lbs/acre (straight) or 15 lbs/acre (in mixture). Crimson Clover* (C) Fast growing, summer annual clover excellent for cover cropping. Vigorous growth provides N and produces up to 1500 lbs dry matter/acre. Well suited for most soil types. Will winterkill in the upper-midwest. Plant May 15th August 15th at lbs/acre. Berseem Clover* (C) Quick growing summer annual clover. Good N fixation potential and excellent biomass production. Widely adapted to varying soils and. Will winterkill in the upper-midwest. Plant May 15th August 15th at lbs/acre. * = Variety Not Stated (O) Available as organic seed (C) Available as conventional, untreated seed

5 COVER CROPS BIOMASS/WEED SUPPRESSION COVER CROPS Winter Rye* (O,C) Winter rye is the most winter-hardy fall-planted grain. It can be grazed deep into the fall, competes heavily with weeds and produces lots of forage/ green manure in the spring. It will germinate down to 35 F and performs well on low fertility and/or droughty soils. Excellent feed value as forage with protein levels up to 18%. Average yields for grain range from bu/acre. Seed lbs/acre for cover cropping and 100 lbs/acre for grain/spring forage. Spooner Winter Rye (O) Tall, high yielding, high test weight winter rye variety with good straw strength developed by University of Wisconsin. Earlier maturing than VNS & more consistent Tillage Radish (O,C) Improved oilseed radish from Cover Crop Solutions bred specifically for cover cropping. Its large & fast-growing taproots have shown significant benefits in enhancing soil quality by mitigating compaction, & cycling nutrients. Tillage Radish scavenges N, P & Ca from deep in the soil profile making the nutrients more available for future cash crops. Five Universities have verified yield increases of bu/acre for corn & 7-9 bu/acre for soybeans. Plant July 15th September 15th at 8-10 lbs/acre. Tillage Rootmax Annual Ryegrass (C) Improved, certified variety of annual ryegrass from Cover Crop Solutions bred specifically for cover cropping. Selected for deep roots that build soil structure & root 80% deeper than typical ryegrass. Uniform stand & development for ease of control/kill. Plant August 1st September 15th at lbs/acre. Annual Ryegrass* (O,C) VNS annual ryegrass. An economical choice for cover cropping. Rapid growing plant with extensive shallow root structure. Excellent for fall grazing & forage. Plant August 1st September 15th at lbs/acre. Phacelia* (C) Non-leguminous, annual broadleaf plant with fringed leaves. Excellent cold & drought tolerance. Widely used as a cover crop & bee forage in Europe. Produces good amounts of biomass & conditions soil, leaving excellent structure & aggregation. Scavenges excess soil N. Will winterkill in the upper-midwest. Do not broadcast. Drill July 15th September 1st at 7-12 lbs/acre. Kodiak Mustard (C) Certified, Non-GMO variety of brown mustard bred specifically for cover cropping. Excellent biomass production and rapid growth. Good competitive ability with weeds. Very high level of plant glucosinolates that can suppress pathogenic soil fungi, nematodes, and other inspects. Chop or mow the mustard prior to incorporation to maximize suppressive effect. Do not allow plant to set seed. Plant August 1st September 1st at lbs/acre. Steve Groff : Founder & CEO of Cover Crop Solutions

6 COVER CROP MIXES (C) Blend of Tillage Radish & Tillage Rootmax annual ryegrass from Cover Crop Solutions. Combines the aggressive taproot of Tillage Radish with the deep rooting and rapid growth of Rootmax annual ryegrass. Mix scavenges soil N and makes it available to the following cash crop. Bristol Mix can be grazed in the fall. Mix will winterkill in the upper-midwest. Plant July 15th September 15th at lbs/acre. (C) Three-way blend of Tillage Radish, Tillage Rootmax annual ryegrass & CCS Crimson Clover from Cover Crop Solutions. Provides a combination of deep soil tillage and N accumulation of Tillage Radish & Rootmax ryegrass with the N-fixing capacity of crimson clover. High performance mix scavenges, produces & releases N when crops need it most. Indy Mix can be grazed in the fall. Mix will winterkill in the upper-midwest. Plant July 15th September 15th at lbs/acre. Crimson Clover is Coated : Not suitable for Organic Production (C) Blend of Tillage Radish, Tillage Sunn, & CCS Sorghum/Sudangrass from Cover Crop Solutions. This summer mix provides exceptional biomass production for maximum soil building and soil health restoration. Tillage Sunn (or Sunn Hemp) is a tropical warm season legume that thrives in poor soils & dry conditions. Sorghum/ sudangrass provides outstanding biomass both above & below ground. Tillage Radish is shaded by the two taller species during the summer then begins growth once the weather turns cool. Mix will winterkill in the upper-midwest. Plant July 1st August 15th at lbs/acre. Sorghum/Sudangrass is treated : Not suitable for Organic Production Fall Green Manure Mix 1 (C) Cover crop blend of oats, field peas & Tillage Radish designed for maximum green manure production in the fall. This mix will consistently winterkill in the upper- Midwest, reducing the need for aggressive spring tillage. Each species brings something unique to the mixture and will work well on a variety of soils and provide numerous benefits both above & below ground. Can be hayed or grazed in the fall. Plant August 1st September 15th at lbs/ acre. Fall Green Manure Mix 2 (C) A combination of crimson clover, annual ryegrass, and Tillage Radish. Each species is excellent at scavenging nutrients and mitigating compaction and crimson clover fixes N. Deep rooting cover crop mixture will provide soil building benefits to the next seasons cash crop. Plant August 1st September 15th at lbs/acre. Fall Green Manure Mix 3 (C) Highly diverse blend of winter rye, hairy vetch, spring field peas, crimson clover & annual ryegrass. High species diversity lends more stability and utility to this mix. Maximizes green manure production and N fixation. This cover crop mixture is suitable for most soils types and will produce rapid growth in fall of seeding year and the following spring. Plant August 15th September 15th at lbs/acre. Organic Cover Crop Mix 1 (O) Cover crop blend of organic oats, organic field peas & organic Tillage Radish designed for maximum green manure production in the fall. This mix will consistently winterkill in the upper-midwest, reducing the need for aggressive spring tillage. Each species brings something unique to the mixture and will work well on a variety of soils and provide numerous benefits both above & below ground. Can be hayed or grazed in the fall. Plant August 1st September 15th at lbs/acre. Organic Cover Crop Mix 4 (O) Cover crop mix of organic Tillage Radish with organic annual ryegrass. Deep rooting Tillage Radish complements the shallow rooted annual ryegrass for maximum coverage & biomass production. Excellent soil builder and nutrient scavenger. Mix will winterkill in the upper-midwest. Plant July 15th September 15th at lbs/acre. (O) Available as organic seed (C) Available as conventional, untreated seed

7 BRASSICA and WILDLIFE PLOT SEED BARNAPOLI FORAGE RAPE (BARENBRUG) Barnapoli is a medium-tall forage rape variety that produces very high yields, high protein levels, and high digestibility. Barnapoli ranked number one in a recent sheep grazing study, outperforming all other varieties of any Brassica species. Seed 3 lbs/acre, ¼ to ½ inch deep. DWARF ESSEX RAPE* A succulent, brassica which is excellent for hogs, sheep, and young stock. Persists well after the first frost. May be seeded any time from early spring until August. Should be ready to pasture in 6 to 8 weeks. Keep it grazed so it doesn t get tall and woody. To fatten hogs, additional grain is needed. Can blister white pigs. Seed 4-8 acre, ¼ to ½ inch deep. BARKANT TURNIP (BARENBRUG) Barkant is a very vigorous turnip with a purple tankard root. The variety has a very good leaf and root yield with high sugar and dry-matter content. Ideally suited for grazing with sheep and cattle, it is common to obtain 4-6 tons of dry-matter/acre of this high-energy feed. Barkant is able to provide multiple harvests with the correct grazing management. Seed 4 lb/acre, ¼ to ½ inch deep. PURPLE TOP TURNIPS* The roots grow about ½ out of the ground and are a high energy feed with 85% TDN and 10% protein. They pasture successfully with up to a foot of snow. Use lbs. N and medium rates of K & P for best results. Seeding can be in the spring or fall. Planted in May, they can provide ample feed and quality grazing by July - a period when cool season grasses slow down or go dormant. Late seeding provides plenty of late fall/early winter grazing. Seed 5-6 lbs/acre, ¼ to ½ inch deep. KALE* A frost tolerant brassica, producing high yields and retaining good feed value during cold weather. Kale has the best cold tolerance of the brassicas with a survival tolerance down to 10⁰ F. Feed quality of kale is very good, and pasture will compare favorably with alfalfa. Excellent for dairy, sheep and livestock. Plant May-June or later in the summer for single harvest or late fall grazing. Seed 3-4 lbs/acre, ¼ to ½ inch deep. Brassicas may be planted in late summer or early fall. Allow days of growth prior to a frost for optimum grazing BIG RACK DEER MIX Our own unique perennial mix containing a grazing white clover, Big Rack deer clover, Berseem clover, medium red clover, a winter-hardy alfalfa, perennial ryegrass, forage rape, and winter rye for a nurse crop. We think it is the best on the market as it offers more browsable species. High energy and protein. Seed lbs/acre Aug. 1 to Aug. 20. WINTER PEAS/WINTER WHEAT BLEND* Deer will go nuts for the peas so we add small grain to keep them from getting it all at once. This annual blend will last deep into the early winter with the small grain coming back in the spring. High energy for cold months. Seed lbs/acre Aug. 1 - Sept. 1. Add forage kale for longer and richer grazing. BUCK FORAGE OATS If attracting deer during the hunting season is your goal, then this is what you need. Buck Forage Oats are very cold tolerant and can remain green until temperatures drop to 10 degrees or below. Deer will dig these out of the snow cover. Contains more protein than corn. Seed lbs/acre from Aug.15 Sept lb. bag. DOUBLE DOWN FOOD PLOT This perennial mix of clover and chicory will last 3-5 years. Plant spring or fall. High protein forage. Grows well in shady areas. Both deer & turkeys love it. 4-lb bag plants ½ acre. Plant Aug. 1 - Aug. 15. MONSTER MIX - Tecomate Monster Mix grows and attracts monster bucks like nothing else! You can build your management program around this stuff! Monster Mix comes as close to being the perfect yearround food plot mix as anything on the market. Works best in moist, fertile soils. Berseem clover, chicory, red and white clovers. 4-pound bag plants ½ acre. Plant Aug. 1 - Aug. 15. BUCKS AND BOSSES - Tecomate A perennial blend of White and Red Clover, Birdsfoot Trefoil and Chicory formulated to draw big bucks and boss gobblers to small woodland food plots with minimal farming effort. A perfect year-round turkey plot, Bucks & Bosses provides turkeys with great forage, excellent bugging habitat, abundant brood cover and loads of seeds. 4-lb bag plants ½ acre. Plant Aug. 1- Aug. 15. * = Variety Not Stated

8 1414 W. Main Street, P.O. Box 127 Albert Lea, MN Fall Grain Flyer C o n t e n t s P a g e Winter Grains Cover Crops Brassica & Food Plot Seed Visit for agronomic information and helpful resources on cover crops and winter grains Darin Yokiel in a field planted to Fall Green Manure Mix 1 Fall Green Manure Mix 5 Designed to Meet the Requirements of the USDA EQIP Program. This five-ingredient cover crop mixture can increase your ranking in the EQIP program. (Contact your local FSA office for details.) A mixture of Annual Ryegrass, Tillage Radish, Crimson clover, Purple Top turnips & Berseem clover provides a multitude of soil health benefits. The fibrous root system of the ryegrass complements the taproots of the turnips & radishes and the nitrogenfixing capabilities of the clovers. Mix will winterkill in the upper-midwest. Plant Aug. 1st - Sept. 15th lbs/acre.