Jerry Kenkel of Missouri Valley, IA appreciates the benefits that cover crops provide, such as building soil quality and preventing soil erosion, but like many farmers, he is pressed for time in the fall. Mixing cereal rye seed into his fall-applied dry fertilizer enables Jerry to meet his soil-building goals without investing much time or money in the process.
Low cost, high convenience: Jerry hires his co-op to spread dry fertilizer with cover crop seed mixed in, and the co-op doesn’t charge him anything beyond the seed cost. “I’m keeping my costs low, since I’m only paying for the seed and would be paying to spread dry fertilizer anyway,” he explains.
“I just call the co-op once I’m done harvesting a field, and they are out within a day or two, typically,” notes Jerry. The co-op mixes, tenders and applies the seed and fertilizer, so Jerry can keep harvesting.
Tips for success: Jerry's corn head doesn't chop stalks, so the cover crop seed does not get caught in chopped corn residue. He seeds a higher rate of cereal rye than many people: typically 60-65 lbs/acre. When it rains shortly after spreading fertilizer and seed, he skips incorporation, otherwise he will lightly disk the seed in on occasion. Jerry has not seen uneven cover crop and dry fertilizer spreading, in part because the co-op tenders seed and dry fertilizer for a maximum of 40 acre/load. “It doesn’t really settle out,” he explains. “Have faith that it will come up in the spring, even if there isn’t a ton of fall growth,” he encourages.
