Fall 2012 Cover Crop Field Walks Announced

Dates for the Fall 2012 field walks at each demonstration site have been selected and are available on the events page of this site at http://extension.psu.edu/cover-crops/events

We focus on mixtures because of the way species complement each other to meet producer goals and reduce risks of failure of any particular species.  Listed below are the species mixes established at each site.  For more information on results from previous years, visit the project website at http://extension.psu.edu/cover-crops/trials/cover-crop-mixtures-for-dairy-farms.

Crimson Clover and Annual Ryegrass

• Low cost
• Slow fall growth
• Fast spring growth
• Nitrogen fixation
• Heavy root mass
• Excellent forage in spring

Crimson Clover and Triticale

• Vigorous spring growth
• Excellent winterhardiness of triticale
• Nutrient retention and uptake
• Nitrogen fixation
• Excellent forage in spring, high tonnage

Crimson Clover and Oat

• Fast fall growth
• Oat dies – only clover left in spring
• Nutrient retention and uptake in fall
• Nitrogen fixation, esp in spring
• Nitrogen for following crop

Annual Ryegrass and Oat

• Excellent nitrogen retention in fall
• Fast growing in fall and spring
• Fibrous roots for compaction alleviation
• Grazing/harvest in fall and spring possible
• Nutrient uptake in fall and spring

Cereal Rye and Oat

• Maximize fall and spring growth
• Good fall cover and winter survival (rye)
• High nutrient uptake in fall and spring
• Potential for fall (forage oat) and spring
forage harvests

Radish, Vetch and Rye

• Enhanced biodiversity
• Excellent winterhardiness of rye
• Heavy nitrogen feeder in fall
• Nitrogen fixation in spring
• Potential for grazing in fall
• Forage harvest possible in spring