Indiana Farmers Adapt to Unpredictable Weather with Flexible Cover Crop Plans

Farmers in Indiana are no strangers to unpredictable weather patterns, but that doesn't mean they can't adapt when it comes to planting cover crops. Dennis Lund notes that if you don't like the current weather conditions, just wait an hour and it will change.

With this year's dry spring followed by significant rain in some areas, many farmers found themselves with replanted or late-planted cash crops. This can impact what they can do in the fall when it comes to planting cover crops. To be successful, being flexible and ready to adjust plans is key.

For fields where corn is being harvested later than planned, farmers may need to change species or seeding methods for their cover crops. Many common cover crops used ahead of corn have an early seeding window, with annual ryegrass, clovers, and radish needing to be seeded by October 7 at the latest.

Cereal grains such as rye or barley can be seeded later but pose challenges in the spring ahead of corn, particularly with potential nitrogen tie-up. Be careful switching to cereal rye, especially if you haven't used it before, and be prepared to terminate it early or put 35 units of nitrogen on with the planter.

For fields where soybeans are being harvested, cover crop plans may need to be tweaked. Cereal rye is a common choice for soybean fields and can be seeded up to November 10 across much of the state. However, if you're concerned about winter erosion control, you may need to plant those fields prior to harvest.