MAEAP Technician Cover Crop Survey Here is a summary of the Surveys that were returned (see yellow dots). After the two summary pages are the individual county responses. Thank you so much for distributing the surveys and for the responses returned. We (Renner, Sprague, Tiemann, Gross, Dedecker, Hasenick) have funding this year from the Michigan Corn Growers and also Project GREEEN to research interseeding cover crops in corn at two timings:v3-v4 and V5-V6 in 2016 and 2017. We will have research at the MSU Agronomy Farm and at 5 on-farm locations. We also have submitted a full proposal to SARE to fund this research in 2017-2018. We (Kravchenko, Renner, Snapp) also have research this summer and in 2017 on-farm and at the research farm seeding cover crop mixtures at V5 in corn and after wheat harvest in sloping farm fields (summits, slopes, depressions) and comparing mixture seedings to red clover frost seeded in wheat and to cereal rye seeded after corn. SUMMARY 1. What % of farms seed cover crops: Most counties reported that no farms or very few farms seeded cover crops at this time. b. Pros/ This provides a cover crop through a much larger portion of the season and allows farmers to plant cover crops that require a longer growing season. It may also improve the establishment and final stand of the cover crop. Cons: Many producers are worried about the competition this could create with the corn. Equipment limitations prevent some farmers from planting at this time. Also, residual herbicides may limit planting at this time. Some farmers are also concerned whether this practice would be covered by crop insurance. Counties reported a range from 0-35% of their farms. Counties reported that 20-60% of farms seeded cover crops at this time. This timing allows for a longer cover crop growing season and more options for longer-season covers. For some farms, this is a good time to plant because it is not a busy time of year. Some farms do not have time to plant this time of year and it can be difficult to prepare the seed bed for this planting.
Seeding at this time ranged from 5-65% throughout the counties surveyed. Resource availability for cover crops is better once the corn is harvested. There is no need for specialized equipment like there is for interseeding. There is a shorter growing season for cover crop establishment and a limitation on what covers can be planted. This also requires a timely corn harvest and more work during the harvest season. a. Interseed in corn at V3-V4: One county reported that cereal rye was planted at this time. b. Seed in wheat stubble: oats, radish, rye, buckwheat, crimson clover, peas, winter wheat, turnip, triticale c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: rye, radish, wheat, clover, triticale b. Seed in wheat stubble: oat/radish/rye; buckwheat/oat/crimson clover; oat/pea; radish/oat; rye/crimson clover/radish; radish/oat/pea c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: radish/rye; some kind of grass species/radish; cover crops planted at this time were generally not mixtures About half of the counties reported that different ratios were compared, but few details were given. - What is the farm s goal or reason for planting a cover crop? - Does it fit in with the farm s current management practices? - What is the cost? - What are the benefits of a mixture over a monoculture or benefits of some mixtures over others? - Is there more of a soil fertility and soil health benefit to a cover crop mixture? - How can mixtures be established better in standing corn? - How will this impact the number of trips through the field a farmer makes? - Which mixtures will work with pre emergence herbicides? - How can a mixture improve profitability? - What is the best timing for planting? - How will different mixtures affect the crop residue left? - Many farms believe there are soil health and fertility benefits that make planting cover crops worthwhile. - Many farms are worried about the cost of planting cover crops. - Is this system profitable/beneficial when commodity prices are so low?
None b. Pros/ Cons: Branch County 30% of the wheat acres grown. About 50% of those who grow wheat grow a cover, either frost seeded red clover, or radish, oats, or rye after wheat. Most farmers aerial seed rye or oats into the standing corn crop to achieve a longer growing season for the cover, but moisture and light can be limiting. b. Seed in wheat stubble: oats, radish, rye, buckwheat, crimson clover c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: rye, wheat b. Seed in wheat stubble: oats/radish/rye; buckwheat/crimson clover c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: No mixtures Yes, in an attempt to fine-tune the rates of each species to get the desired stand. - What are the farm s goals/reasons for planting a cover crop? - Does planting covers fit into the farm s current management practices? - What is the cost? - Planting cover crops after harvest or in standing beans is more common in this county to give more time for the cover crops to establish.
None b. Pros/ Cons: Coldwater County 30% of the wheat acres grown. About 50% of those who grow wheat grow a cover, either frost seeded red clover, or radish, oats, or rye after wheat. Most farmers aerial seed rye or oats into the standing corn crop to achieve a longer growing season for the cover, but moisture and light can be limiting. b. Seed in wheat stubble: oats, radish, rye, buckwheat, crimson clover c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: rye, wheat b. Seed in wheat stubble: oats/radish/rye; buckwheat/crimson clover c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: No mixtures Yes, in an attempt to fine-tune the rates of each species to get the desired stand. - What are the farm s goals/reasons for planting a cover crop? - Does planting covers fit into the farm s current management practices? - What is the cost? - Planting cover crops after harvest or in standing beans is more common in this county to give more time for the cover crops to establish.
Huron County 1. What % of farms seed cover crops: <1% b. Pros/ May improve the cover crop establishment; option to grow species that require a longer growing season. Cons: Competition with the corn; weather can hinder establishment; cost 35% 30% Good establishment of cover; option to grow species that require a longer growing season; reduced work load for farmers this time of year Potential plugging of drain tile; difficult to prepare seed bed 5% after grain harvest; 25% after silage harvest Shorter growing season limits species options; more work for farmers during busy harvest season a. Interseed in corn at V3-V4: clover b. Seed in wheat stubble: oil seed/tillage radish, peas, oats, annual rye c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: wheat, rye a. Interseed in corn at V3-V4: none b. Seed in wheat stubble: oat/pea; radish/oat; annual rye/radish c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: none Not often - What are the farm s goals/reasons for planting a cover crop? - What are the benefits of a mixture? - Is there a reduction in fertilizer costs with a mixture? - How can establishment in standing corn be improved?
- What practices can reduce the number of trips through the field? - What herbicides can be used? - Cover crops improve soil health and fertility - Cover crops provide erosion control - Is there a potential for drain tile plugging with cover crops? - How can cover crops be established after a late sugar beet harvest? - Is it profitable/beneficial to plant cover crops when commodity prices are low/how do we keep producers using cover crops during low commodity prices?
0 b. Pros/ Cons: Isabella County 5% 25% This is the only time of year that some farmers have time to plant cover crops. 5% Helps loosen the soil for no-till planting. Need to have a timely corn harvest to ensure cover crop establishment. b. Seed in wheat stubble: what, oilseed radish, clover c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: cereal rye b. Seed in wheat stubble: oilseed radish/crimson clover c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: None No - How can this improve profitability?
1% Lenawee County b. Pros/ Allows for longer season and better establishment Cons: Practice is not compatible with crop insurance 10-20% 50-60% 25% Limits the species that can be planted due to a short growing season b. Seed in wheat stubble: radish, annual rye c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: annual rye, cereal rye, radish b. Seed in wheat stubble: annual rye/crimson clover radish; 13-way mix; radish/annual rye c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: radish/cereal rye Yes
5% b. Pros/ Cons: Mason/Lake/Manistee Counties 35% 60% 65% a. Interseed in corn at V3-V4: cereal rye b. Seed in wheat stubble: rye, radish c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: cereal rye a. Interseed in corn at V3-V4: rye/clover b. Seed in wheat stubble: none c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: none No - How can we get good establishment and growth?
0 b. Pros/ Mecosta/Montcalm Counties Cons: Equipment limitations; lost corn yield due to damage from planting cover crop; competition from cover crop 0% 35% Lack of time to plant after wheat harvest 5% Rye establishment is poor following corn or a late harvest b. Seed in wheat stubble: turnip, oat, rye, radish, clover, pea, triticale c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: rye, clover, triticale, radish b. Seed in wheat stubble: grain/legume/brassica c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: generally not a mixture Yes
0 b. Pros/ Cons: Missaukee County 0 40% 50% Farmers run out of time following harvest b. Seed in wheat stubble: None c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: rye, radish, triticale b. Seed in wheat stubble: None c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: None Unsure - What is the best time to plant cover crops? - How can farmers fit in cover cropping into a busy schedule?
0% b. Pros/ Sanilac County Cons: Equipment limitations for planting; residual herbicides prevent cover crops 10% 20% <5% b. Seed in wheat stubble: radish, clover, rye, triticale, peas, oats c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: rye b. Seed in wheat stubble: radish/clover/rye; radish/oats/peas c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: None Sometimes - How will this affect spring planting?
0 b. Pros/ Cons: St. Joe/Branch Counties 0 0 61% Post-harvest resource availability is better; No need for specialized planting equipment Late season restricts cover crop species options b. Seed in wheat stubble: None c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: rye, oat, wheat, oilseed radish b. Seed in wheat stubble: None c. Seed after corn harvest in the fall: Unknown No - What special planting equipment is required? - When is the best time to plant? - What is the best kill method to use? - Does a mixture affect the amount of residue that is left?