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Many farmers preparing to put cover crop plans into action

The demonstration farm manager with the Illinois Soybean Association says now is the time for producers to finalize their cover crop plans.

Jim Isermann says timing cover crop seeding ahead of a forecasted rain can be crucial for stand establishment.

“Farmers who are wanting to get those species on that need to be seeded early, things like radishes and rye grass, definitely need to be getting those on here pretty quick ahead of these rains that are coming in here to help get things going,” he says.

He tells Brownfield, “Cereal rye is the old standby and so many farmers use it just because you can put that out there at just about any time.”  He says, “Wheat, barley, triticale, depending on where you are, you can push those into mid to late October. Our clovers, our annual ryegrass or brassicas, we really need to see those get on in a perfect world by the 1st of October.”

Isermann says most commodity groups have resources and personnel on staff that can assist farmers with crafting an efficient cover crop plan.

AUDIO: Jim Isermann – Illinois Soybean Association