Recommended Dates for Fall Cover Crop Planting
Small grains are harvested across the state, and corn silage harvest has begun in many parts of the state. Other crops, such as snap beans and other vegetables, may have been harvested as well. An important soil management principle is to keep soil covered at all times, and preferably to have living roots in the soil continuously. Cover crops provide diversity in the landscape, protect soil from erosion, reduce runoff, increase infiltration, recycle nutrients from the subsoil, fix atmospheric nitrogen, and improve soil organic matter content as well as provide emergency forage.
At this time, many different species can still be planted, but the list will shrink quickly as time moves on. Although it may be dry right now, it is better to get the cover crops established for when it does start to rain. Below are a couple of species options for fall establishment from the Penn State Agronomy Guide. Based on the dynamics of every year, you can adjust planting dates. When creating a mixture of different species, it is recommended to combine species that complement each other. Considering it is already September, it is too late to plant warm-season annuals.
| Species | Area 1 | Area 2 | Area 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter rye | October 10 | October 15 | October 25 |
| Winter wheat | October 1 | October 5 | October 15 |
| Winter barley | n/a | September 25 | October 1 |
| Spring oats | September 1 | September 10 | September 15 |
| Annual ryegrass | August 15 | September 1 | September 15 |
| Crimson clover | n/a | September 1 | September 15 |
| Austrian winter pea | n/a | August 25 | August 30 |
| Hairy vetch | August 15 | September 1 | September 15 |
| Forage radish | September 1 | September 7 | September 15 |
| Rapeseed/canola | September 1 | September 7 | September 15 |
| Turnip | September 1 | September 7 | September 15 |
Source: Penn State Agronomy Guide
Make sure to consider potential herbicide residual issues, pest life cycles, termination strategies and timing, and cost when choosing a cover crop species or mixture.
Taking advantage of cover crops can add diversity to your crop rotation, help hold or fix nitrogen for your next crop, suppress weeds, protect soil, provide pollinators or livestock food, and more. If you would like to talk through your cover cropping plan, reach out to your local Agronomy Educator, NRCS Conservationist, or Conservation District Ag Specialist.
