The Midwest Cover Crop Council’s conference last week - where 120 people from 13 states came to talk about cover crops - is the latest indication of the growing excitement in reducing conventional tillage in favor of no-till and cover crops. Cover crops save money (in fact, there are financial incentives available) and boost crop [...]
Continue reading about Bumper Crop of New Interest in Cover Crops - including Annual Ryegrass
In the last year, Penn State conducted tests on various nine cover crop species, including annual ryegrass, as well as eight mixtures. The tests took place on 374 plots through the state. Click here to see the power point presentation.
The advantages listed on annual ryegrass include:
low seed cost
vigorous root system
high forage quality (if needed)
The advantage [...]
Continue reading about Penn State’s Cover Crop Demonstrations - Annual Ryegrass Values
Mike Starkey, a forward-looking Indiana farmer, changed the way he feeds nitrogen to crops - injecting the fertilizer at the plant roots rather than broadcasting it. That boosted growth and saved money. But he realized by studying the runoff from his field tiles that most of the nitrogen leached from the field once the soybean [...]
Continue reading about Annual Ryegrass Boosts Production Because of Nitrogen Kick
Mike Plumer, an agronomist with the University of Illinois began to recommend annual ryegrass over a decade ago, when he discovered its value as a nitrogen-scavenging cover crop.
“When a soybean plant dies, it immediately starts to degrade. If you get any rainfall on the residue or through the nodules, it’s going to leach nitrogen quickly.”
The [...]
Continue reading about Annual Ryegrass Scavenges Nitrogen from Old Crops - Gives it up to New Crops
Annual Ryegrass used as a cover crop adds organic matter in no-till operations. Why? The massive root structure left behind increases organic matter as it decays. Having something growing in the ground year-round allows earthworms and healthy bacteria to keep working, building nutrients, building carbon.
Each time the soil organic matter is improved by 1%, one [...]
Mark Trumm, a Wisconsin farmer asked: Was thinking of putting annual rye grass in a field that we usually have corn but floods out every year. It would be a field that we would graze beef cow/calves or yearlings on. Any advice on annual rye grass would be greatly appreciated.
Here’s what I answered…but am seeking [...]
Continue reading about Wisconsin Farmer Asks about Annual Ryegrass for Summer Pasture
