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Drone technology helps Illinois farmer improve soil health with timely cover crops

A southwestern Illinois farmer says recent rains should do wonders for his cover crops.

Dale Haudrich, who farms in Monroe County, says drones seeded cover crops into his standing corn just before the precipitation.

“We’ve got over an inch of rain here in the last two days, and I think we’ll have some cover crops starting to germinate before we even combine our corn,” he says.

He tells Brownfield it’s the second year he’s used the technology.

“I’m a believer in if you can, have something growing in that field all year long for those microorganisms, the little bugs that are good and beneficial to the soil.”  He says, “They’re working all year long, and the more we get them working in our best interest, the better for our bottom line.”

Haudrich says the drone seeded a mix of radish, turnip, clover, and some rye ahead of next year’s soybean crop.

AUDIO: Dale Haudrich – Illinois farmer