How to build the perfect cover crop mix

Around the country farmers are busy with mid-season tasks. Harvesting wheat, irrigating, checking crops, moving cattle, and (hopefully) enjoying some warm summer days. Amidst the buzz of all this activity we recently announced our fall 2025 prices and, good news, many of our favorite fall products dropped significantly in price. If you’re thinking of planting a fall cover crop now is the perfect time to start planning for your perfect cover crop mix. While you’re planning it’s important to ask yourself these questions to set you on a path for a successful cover crop experience.

When can I plant my cover crop?

Planting time is one of the biggest factors when you’re choosing which cover crop species to use. If you’re planting a cover crop after wheat harvest you have lots of options from warm season species to cool season species and just about every plant family you can think of. As we move closer to the cool fall temps you’ll want to use less warm season species and more cool season species. As we move through the fall your opportunity to add diversity decreases until the only viable option in most cases is a rye cover crop. While rye is better than just leaving your fields bare for the winter, we encourage people to be creative with adding more species to their mix.

What am I trying to achieve with my cover crop?

Are you trying to prevent erosion? Maybe hoping to feed livestock at some point. Perhaps you want to fix some nitrogen for the following cash crop. Many times your specific goals dictate what species you use and in what quantities. For example, a grazing mix is usually planted at a higher seeding rate with species that are specifically designed for high palatability. If you’re just looking for something to hold the soil in place during the winter there are plenty of great options that don’t have the price tag of a highly palatable grazing crop.

How and when am I going to terminate my cover crop?

Every good thing must come to an end and it’s no different for cover crops. Part of growing a successful cover crop is proper termination. If you don’t terminate the cover crop in a timely manner some species can quickly become a nuisance. To avoid this, make a termination plan before you even plant the cover crop. What tools will you use? Do you have a roller crimper? Are you planning to spray it out? Maybe your livestock will use up all the forage. Or let winter do it’s thing and terminate the cover crop for you. No matter what species you plant, be sure to have a plan and a back up plan to ensure your cover crop doesn’t become a problem down the road. As always, context is key when it comes to cover crops. Understanding your unique context and catering to that situation will set you up for success. If you have questions or are unsure about which direction to go, talk with a seasoned cover cropper or one of our sales reps. So many people in the cover crop space are so willing to share information and be a resource for others. At the end of the day it’s up to you to reach out and ask the questions, but know that there are friendly, helpful people all around ready to brainstorm with you.