Cover Crops
Cover crops and plow downs are excellent options for improving your soil amendments naturally. They both will add substantial organic matter and they will also make nutrients more readily available at the soil’s surface. Listed below are cover crops that Elk Mound Seed offers that can immensely improve any farming operation.
Here’s an excellent link that can help anyone in the Midwest looking to plant cover crops:
Tillage Radish – 50# / $165
These radishes benefit the soil by alleviating compaction, improving water filtration, increasing organic mater and providing great weed suppression. Studies have shown that planting tillage radishes increase corn yields 11% on average. For the greatest soil building capabilities, seed with a legume such as clovers and vetches. Plant at least 4-10 weeks before your area’s first killing frost. Seed at 8/10 lbs/acre or 3/6 lbs acre in mixes.
Nitrogen Plus Plow Down – 50# / ASK
Crunch the numbers to learn the importance and value of this nitrogen plow down mix. This mix will scavenge Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium along with other micronutrients, developing as much as 200 lbs/acre. Expect excellent bio-mass production and more than 2000 lbs of dry matter/acre. Seed at 10-15 lbs/acre. Okay for late summer seeding too.
- 33% Yellow Blossom
- 33% Alsike
- 33% Mammoth
Buckwheat – 50# / $49.95
Widely regarded as the best crop for green manure. Deteriorating and depleted soils will benefit the most from this plow down. Buckwheat can produce 2-3 tons of dry matter. Expect to plow down in as little as 6 to 8 weeks. Buckwheat seed and production costs are low making it possible for cash cropping. Seed at 55 lbs/acre, one inch deep in the soil.
Winter Wheat – 60# / ASK
Control erosion and weeds with this over-wintering crop. Expect valuable grain with yields of 40-80 bu/acre and excellent straw. Plant from September 20th to October 20th in northern Wisconsin. Later plantings are acceptable as you move farther south. Seed at 120 lbs/acre.
Winter Rye – 56# / ASK
Winter rye can be grazed late into fall. It controls weeds and offers excellent bio-mass tonnage if plowed down. Plant late and expect germination. This seed will germinate down to 35 degrees F. Winter rye can be produced on low pH, low fertility and light, sandy soils. Follow winter rye with soybeans or corn for strong performance. Seed at 75-100 lbs/acre.
Winter Triticale – 50# / ASK
Winter triticale is a cross between winter wheat and winter rye. By doing this, the genetic cross possesses the desirable qualities of both wheat and rye. Expect winter triticale to have the winter-hardiness of rye while having the grain quality of winter wheat. This cross will also yield more tonnage than any other winter annual small grain. Seed at 100-120 lbs/acre.
Alsike Clover – 50# / $99.00
This clover is the most economical plow down you can use while still obtaining considerable nitrogen credits. Seed between 6-10 lbs/acre for plow down situations.
Hairy Vetch – 50# / ASK
A top legume for nitrogen production credits and spring plant residue. Earn up to 100 lbs of nitrogen per acre, usually planted late summer with winter rye. Seed at 25 lbs/acre alone or 20 lbs/acre with winter rye.
Arizona Alfalfa – 50# / ASK
Grow and fix nitrogen all summer with this non-dormant alfalfa. A good way to build nitrogen credits with bonus hay in the right growing season. Seed at 15-20 lbs/acre.
Crimson Clover – 50# / $79
This annual summer clover provides rapid robust growth along with approximately 50 lbs. of nitrogen per acre. Count on up to 1,500 lbs dry matter with crimson clover as a plow down. Seed at 15-20 lbs/acre in spring will small grain.
