Spring 2017 Logan County
Farm Outlook Magazine

Why some central Illinois farmers are giving cover crops a try
By  Jan Youngquist

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[March 30, 2017]  Most everyone would agree there are benefits to using a cover crop between cash crops. They protect and enrich soils, and provide environmental stewardship to the land and waterways.

So what keeps farmers in Logan County from putting out a cover crop for the winter months?

Timing and costs

The long, late season of corn and soybeans narrows the opportunity for plants to get established before winter sets in.

Those few farms that practice dual production with livestock to feed, and some organic systems where a cover crop provides a compounded circular feed and/or fertilizer, may benefit most from a secondary harvestable crop. But for others, on the face of it, it carries a measurable expenditure with no end of season cash back.

Benefits to field only producers (no livestock)

  • Improved soil health - through increased organic matter, aeration, drainage
     
  • Supplement nutrients - such as N by roots capturing nutrients and drawing upward, and through decomposed residues.
     
  • Erosion control - root systems hold in place, plant canopies prevent direct disruption.
     
  • Nematode and other soil pests control - through biochemical releases and improved sustained soil moisture.

Crop consultant Dr. Bill Becker places his focus on the health of the soil. He says the most important relationship to yield is organic matter in the soil. He also identifies attaining highest yields in the relationship between roots and grain, more healthy roots, more grain produced. His research focuses on improving structure through increasing organic matter and improving soil structure through usage of cover crops and modified tillage practices. Those primary steps when added to balancing nutrients lowers other cost inputs, while increasing yields.

In a time of narrow profit margins such as we have now, who would risk the added expense, why and how?

Atlanta farmer Doug Thompson put in oats and radish seed for the first time just last fall. He did it as "one of my enhancement practices under the NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program."

"I participated in an excellent program sponsored by the IL Corn Growers in which they provided the cover crop seed and aerial application for a reduced cost. This was to encourage us first-timers," he said.

Thompson's goals were to protect the soil from erosion, scavenge residual soil nitrogen, enhance soil structure, breakup soil compaction, and help with weed control in the following crop.

Thompson's fields typically have winter residue cover – untilled corn stalks to be followed by no-till soybeans and soybean stubble that has only had tillage for anhydrous ammonia application.
He chose a corn field with slopes that can erode. "I feel the higher residue of the cover crop will be more manageable in a soybean crop following it, rather than a corn crop," he said.

The results

Thompson used a recommended a mix of radish and oats and nearly all the seed grew. Radish takes just a few days to sprout. The aerial cast seed went on in Aug 2016. A good stand was in place before winter, he said.

"This was a rather exceptional year, as I understand that in many years, lack of timely rain has resulted in a sparse cover crop stand," he said. If soils are dry, it is recommended that the seed be cast by planter.

Would Thompson recommend cover cropping as beneficial and cost effective?

Thompson noted one already evidenced advantage of the oats/radish mix that he used, both crops winter-kill. There is no need to terminate the cover crop with tillage or herbicide prior to planting the grain crop. "I’ve had a long-term practice of no-till soybeans and strip-till corn. I anticipate no change in this as I add cover crops to the mix," he said.

He says, "I have no hard data yet, but the excellent cover crop stand this last fall was an encouragement that success might be measured over the next couple years on that field.

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"The environmental benefits must also be considered when measuring the return from cover crops. They may be one step that will help us to reduce nutrient loss and avoid greater regulation of our farming practices.

"One of my hesitations with cover crops is that they add some amount of management (and sometimes risk) to your cropping system. I think that starting slow and learning from the experiences of other farmers is the best way to deal with these extra burdens," Thompson concluded.

Locally, Holzwarth Flying Service offers a full range of agricultural aerial application services, which includes sowing cover crops.

Asked if the same producers return year after year, Stephanie Heyen said, "Yes, we do see repeat customers." The type seed sown differs depending on the location of the fields and the soil type.

If it is a government program (usually five years in length) they will repeat the process from year to year, or if it is being used for cattle to graze they may do the same fields year to year.

There is a big advantage to aerial seeding when it comes to timing and cover crops. "We are able to fly the seed into the standing crop. This allows for more growth time in favorable temperatures and more light hours. This encourages strong growth and can allow for better root systems to develop," Heyen aptly points out.

Also, with aerial application there is no damage done to the current crop. Additionally Heyen says, "We are able to apply in wet conditions, and we can apply a large amount of acres in a short period of time.

Holzwarth Flying Service operates out of three central Illinois locations including the Logan County Airport. Heyen invites producers, "Call us for any questions or to discuss your agricultural needs." The Lincoln phone is 217-735-3592.

The combination of two to three different seeds is recommended commonly including: radish, turnips, buckwheat, winter peas, cereal rye, annual ryegrass, oats, triticale, crimson clover and hairy vetch
Options are in accordance to goals:

  • Increased organic matter, enhance no till and prevent erosion
  • Nitrogen fixation or nutrient recapture
    Reduce soil compaction
  • Tolerant and improve droughty soils or wet soils
  • Weed or nematode control
  • Provide forage/graze/harvestable livestock feed

Consult your favorite seed dealer to come up with what would meet your needs and look for a government program to help if you are a newbie to cover crops.
 

Read all the articles in our new
Spring 2017 Logan County
Farm Outlook Magazine

Title
CLICK ON TITLES TO GO TO PAGES
Page
2016 featured record soybean yields and decreasing incomes 4
The conundrum of corn 7
The prospect of higher ag prices 11
Price increase for US feed forecast 14
A suspicious character in town:  Bacterial Leaf Streak 17
Why some central Illinois farmers are giving cover crops a try 20
John Fulton to retire after a productive career helping others 24
Weather...and panning for gold in the 2017 growing season 33
2016 County Crop Yields Released 40

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