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Planting green into cover crops is cutting input costs for central Illinois farmer

A central Illinois farmer says adopting the practice of “planting green,” or planting into standing cover crops, is reducing his expenditures on inputs.

Derek Martin, who grows corn and soybeans, in Logan County, says over a decade of cover crop, no-till, and strip-till practices have made an impact on more than just his soil.

“We went down that biological path and cover crop path.”  He says, “We’ve been at it so long now we’re seeing such great results. We’ve been able to save some money on things like seed treatment, fertilizers, and even to the extent of some chemicals on some weed controls.”

He tells Brownfield “planting green” brings an added benefit.

“We plant about 30 pounds an acre of cereal rye.”  He says, “If we can get a good stand or maybe even bump it up 40, 45 pounds and then let it get a good growth in the spring, we can see in the future we’re going to be able to cut back on some chemicals and use that cereal rye as a weed suppression.”

Martin says prioritizing the fields that he plans to plant green is key.

“We would terminate it before we would plant it because we were afraid if it rained and it got out of control.”  He says, “And we’ve had that happen before, but what we have learned, we actually believe it plants better when it’s green and then it creates a better mat.”

He says planting green has also led to less erosion on his fields.  

AUDIO: Derek Martin – Illinois farmer