September 13, 2019 9:26am
Are you a farmer who just harvested your wheat? If so, now is a good time to consider putting in some cover crops!
Without cover crops, the harvesting of wheat usually means the soil surface in your field will be left exposed until the next crop is planted and established. This leads to loss of soil due to wind and runoff from rain and snowmelt. A mix of oats and radish cover crops can be used to protect soils between wheat and the planting of corn or soybean the following year. In addition, they provide several benefits to soil health by preventing erosion, conserving moisture, adding organic carbon, preventing weeds and reducing compaction. They also save you money, and in their first year reduce costs by reducing the need for inputs like herbicides, pesticides and fertilizer. Not to mention, cover crops help protect nearby water quality by preventing soil or nutrients leaving your farm. Read more.
