Cover Crop Seed Suppliers Warn of Higher Costs for Late Orders

Cover crop seed suppliers are advising farmers to book their orders early to avoid higher costs. According to Chris McCracken, owner of Pine Creek Seed Farm in Jersey Shore, Pa., later orders can result in a tighter supply chain and increased prices.

Triticale is experiencing strong demand, with McCracken having quadrupled triticale acres from Pennsylvania growers in the past couple of years. Keith Berns of Green Cover Seeds in Nebraska noted that supplies are thin outside the Mid-Atlantic region, with some markets seeing a 25% price increase.

However, other cereal grains like wheat, rye, and triticale are expected to have moderate pricing due to strong eastern production. Crimson clover and radishes are also in good supply, but coated clover is short and mostly available as raw seed that requires pre-inoculation or rhizobia at planting.

Berns expects hairy vetch prices to run 10% lower due to a strong crop from a grower near Canada. He also mentioned that demand has improved for mung beans and cowpeas as some low-production acres shifted away from row crops and into grazing.