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Indiana Cover Crop Recipe – Post Wheat, Going to Soybean or Corn: Use Oats and Radish Mix

Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC-138)

Purdue Extension (AY-368-W)

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This publication is intended to provide a starting point for farmers who are new to growing cover crops. With experience, farmers may fine-tune the use of cover crops for their systems.

Introduction

The following recipe provides an introductory approach to integrating a cover crop into a wheat rotation with soybean or corn. Planting oat and daikon-type radish cover crops after wheat (see Figure 1) and ahead of a soybean or corn cash crop is an easy way to introduce cover crops into your rotation because these cover crops both winter-kill and add important diversity to agricultural fields.

Planning and Preparation
  • Planning—Educate yourself. Start small. Be timely. Prioritize management based on your purpose and objectives.
  • Wheat variety and planting—No modifications to wheat variety and planting are required for the successful use of cover crops after wheat harvest.
  • Residual wheat herbicides—Oats and radish are tolerant of most herbicides applied to the wheat crop in-season before flag leaf emergence. However, if the cover crop will be grazed or fed to livestock, there may be restrictions on herbicide use. See herbicide label for specific instructions.
  • Seed purchase—Order cover crop seed early from a reputable seed dealer. Purchasing named varieties is preferred to buying variety not stated (VNS) seed. Important traits such as vegetative growth rate, cold and heat tolerance, disease resistance, or insect resistance of named varieties are known, whereas little is known about those traits with VNS seed. A general goal for a mix planted at this time is for it to remain vegetative and growing biomass late into fall or until it is terminated by freezing temperatures. For cover crop radishes (daikon-type), be sure to purchase a single variety since mixed varieties may have unpredictable emergence or bolt to flower immediately and produce seed rather than producing the desired large amounts of biomass and roots. Purchasing VNS oat seed will be less of a risk when obtaining it from a reputable dealer if it has been cleaned, tested for germination, and has a seed tag.
Summer/Fall Work
  • Wheat harvest—Harvest wheat at the normal time in fields where a mix of oats and radish will be planted. If residue levels are high, consider removing straw. If straw is not harvested, cut the wheat high or use a stripper header and make sure that the combine distributes straw and chaff evenly across the swath.
  • Planting time—Plant oats and radish anytime in August after wheat harvest and after any other field activities such as manure application or tile installation. Planting a cool-season annual, such as radish, prior to August is not recommended as it may result in flowering and seed production instead of quick coverage and biomass accumulation, which is the desired goal for this cover crop. Use the Cover Crop Selector Tool for precise seeding dates for your county.
  • Planting method—Drill or plant radish and oats in narrow rows to a depth of 0.50–1.00 inch, depending on moisture, or broadcast with light incorporation. Note that disturbance of the soil, if any, should be light since excessive disturbance of wheat stubble may reduce cover crop benefits. Light tillage will likely synchronize volunteer wheat and cover crop emergence. Emerged winter wheat will overwinter and need to be terminated before corn or soybean seeding occurs the following spring.
  • Seeding rate in oats/radish mix—Mix seeds prior to planting at the following rates (pure live seed, drilled or broadcast): oats, 18–36 lbs./acre; radish, 1–2 lbs./acre. Adjustments to your mix ratio can be made to customize to your specific situation. A higher rate of oats and lower rate of radish is recommended for highly erodible soils and areas sensitive to phosphorus loss. When radishes winter-kill, they will make the soil more erodible and release phosphorus. If you are planning to plant corn in the spring, a higher rate of radish as compared to oats is advised to lower the carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio of the residue.
  • Tillage or no-tillage—Under most circumstances, it is easy for no-till planters to achieve excellent seed placement in the winter-terminated residues. If tillage is used, it is usually better to wait until spring in order to maintain surface cover to prevent erosion.
  • Fertility or liming—If applying P, K, lime, or manure, complete the application, injection, and/or incorporation prior to seeding or apply to the growing oats and radish before the ground freezes. It is not advised to apply manure at seeding as high salt levels can result in poor germination. If injecting manure, low-disturbance injectors are available that will minimize damage to oats and radish. Surface application of liquid manure on top of the cover crop is not recommended. Surface broadcast of dry manure or litter should be done prior to seeding, but 4 tons or less can be applied to growing oats and radish with minimal damage provided it is evenly distributed.
Figure 1: A growing oats/radish mix (Eileen Kladivko)
Spring Work
  • Starter fertilizer—No modifications to your typical fertilization program are required for planting soybean or corn after oats and radish use.
  • Termination—Oats and radish should both terminate by winterkill. However, mild winters and good snow cover sometimes allow radish to overwinter. If this occurs, radishes are easily terminated with typical pre-plant herbicide applications.
  • Soybean or corn planting—It is usually best to no-till plant cash crops into the dead/dry or standing cover crop. Almost all modern planters and drills are fully capable of planting soybean or corn into an oat and radish cover crop. In some cases, the radish tuber will swell enough to cause soil heaving and/or leave holes following the desiccation of the tuber. By cash-crop planting time, this is seldom a no-till planting issue, particularly if the planter is equipped with row cleaners. Check planter attachments and settings such as row cleaners, closing wheels, and down pressure shortly after beginning to plant into the cover crop residue as some adjustments are usually needed for uniform seed depth, seed furrow closure, and ultimately, seedling emergence.
  • Scouting—After soybean or corn planting, scout for crop emergence and population. Additionally, scout for weeds since cover crop residue can often delay emergence of annual weeds, which may delay the application of post-emergence herbicides.
Resources

Cover Crop Selector Tool —available from the Midwest Cover Crops Council

Residual Herbicides and Fall Cover Crop Establishment (Purdue Extension Weed Science publication)

Authors

Anna Morrow, Midwest Cover Crops Council; Shalamar Armstrong, Keith Johnson, Eileen Kladivko, and Dan Quinn, Purdue University (Note: This publication was adapted with consent from MCCC under a joint project to produce customized introductory guidance about cover crops for all member states/provinces.)

Reviewer and Contributor

Barry Fisher, retired USDA–Natural Resources Conservation Service, Fisher Soil Health

The Midwest Cover Crops Council (www.midwestcovercrops.org) aims to facilitate widespread adoption of cover crops throughout the Midwest by providing educational/outreach resources and programs, conducting new research, and communicating about cover crops to the public.
Funding for this project was provided by McKnight Foundation.

December 2022

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ©2022 by MCCC. All rights reserved.

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Ontario Cover Crop Recipe – After Processing Vegetables: Use an Oat-Radish Mix

Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC-129)

University of Guelph (SAG-FS-21-003)

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This publication is intended to provide a starting point for farmers who are new to growing cover crops. With experience, many farmers fine-tune the use of cover crops for their systems.

Introduction

This recipe provides an introductory approach to integrating a cover crop mix of oats and radish after an early harvested processing vegetable, such as snap beans, cucumbers, peas, or early tomatoes. Both oat and radish can successfully establish in late summer to early fall and usually winter-kill. It is a low-risk mix that will help control tough perennial or winter annual weeds, minimize erosion, build soil structure, reduce compaction, and add some extra diversity to your rotation.

Planning and Preparation
  • Planning—Keep it simple. Start small on one field. Be timely. Prioritize cover crop management based on your goals. Fine-tune the recipe for your needs over time. If cole or other Brassica crops are grown in the rotation, it’s best to use peas instead of radish in order to avoid a buildup of pest pressures.
  • Vegetable planting—No modifications to the crop are required for the successful use of cover crops.
  • Residual herbicides—Oats and radish are tolerant of most herbicides applied to the vegetable crop in-season.
  • Seed purchase—Seed supplies and prices can vary depending on the time of year; it is good practice to order seed early (before harvest). The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has compiled a list of reputable cover crop seed suppliers (see Resources).
  • Fertility or manure—Fall fertilizer incorporation can damage the living cover crop. Plan for fertilizer or manure application before planting the cover crop or after the cover crop winter-kills, or use a low-disturbance injection method to minimize damage.
Summer/Fall Work
  • Vegetable harvest—Ensure that crop residues are spread evenly. Some light tillage can help with residue breakdown under the cover crop canopy. If the field was heavily tracked or rutted during harvest, level the field with tillage. For early harvested vegetables, such as peas, waiting a few weeks may allow for breakdown of crop residues and improve the seedbed for the cover crop.
  • Timing of planting—Plant the oat-radish mix between mid-August and mid-September. Planting radish prior to August is not recommended as it will often result in flowering and seed production instead of quick coverage and biomass accumulation.
  • Seeding rate in oats/radish mix—Mix seeds prior to planting. For oat, use 30–60 lbs/acre. Use the higher end of that range if manure application and/or erosion control are your goals; the lower end of that range should be sufficient if you want to build soil structure or have land covered. Radish should be seeded at no more than 2 lbs/acre if drilling and 2–3 lbs/acre if broadcasting.
  • Planting method—An oat-radish cover crop can be planted with a drill at a depth of 0.50–0.75 inch or broadcast with light incorporation. An oat-radish cover crop can also be mixed with dry fertilizer, applied with a spreader, and then lightly incorporated.
  • Fertility or liming—After most processing vegetables, extra nitrogen (manure or fertilizer) is not required. Use a current soil test (no older than four years) to determine lime or phosphorus and potassium nutrient requirements for the next year’s crop. Fertilizers can be applied at the same time as seeding to reduce costs. Lime should be applied separately as it will need to be incorporated deeper than the cover crop seed.
  • Manure—Up to 4 tonnes/acre of solid manure or litter can be surface-broadcast to growing oats and radish provided it is evenly distributed; otherwise it should be done prior to seeding. If injecting manure, low-disturbance injectors are available that will minimize damage to oats and radish. See Use and Management of Manure and Other Organic and/or Prescribed Materials in Resources for more information about recommended practices in Ontario.
  • Tillage or no-tillage—The cover crop can be established with no tillage, but light tillage can help suppress weeds to allow the cover crop to get established. Fall full-width tillage is not necessary and minimizes the benefits of soil cover over the winter.
Figure 1. This shows a well-established oat-radish mix. Radish is very competitive; do not use more than 2 lbs/acre if drilling and 2-3 lbs/acre if broadcasting in a mix with oats. (OMAFRA)
Spring Work
  • Fertilizer—No modifications to a typical fertilization program are required after an oat-radish cover crop mix.
  • Termination—Both oats and radish should winter-kill. However, mild winters and good snow cover sometimes allow overwintering of radish. If this occurs, it is easily terminated with a typical pre-plant herbicide application for broadleaf weeds.
  • Direct-seeding—Most modern planters are fully capable of planting corn, soybean, or vegetables into the expected low spring-residue cover from an oat-radish mix. But if direct-sowing vegetables, consider strip or zone tillage to prepare the seedbed. Check planting depth and seed furrow closure shortly after beginning to plant as some adjustments may be needed.
  • Transplanting—Scout fields early and adjust timing of operations accordingly. An oat-radish cover crop reduces winter annuals, such as chickweed, so tillage for weed control may not be necessary. Cover crop residues can slow the early spring drying and warming of the soil, particularly for early crops such as cole crops; it is unlikely to affect warm-season crops such as tomatoes.
  • Scouting—After planting, scout for crop emergence and population. Additionally, scout for weeds since cover crop residue on the soil surface can delay the emergence of annual weeds, which may delay the application of post-emergence herbicides.
Resources

Cover Crop Selector Tool —available from Midwest Cover Crops Council

Best Management Practices: Winter Cover Crops (OMAFRA)

Cover Crop Seed Suppliers (OMAFRA)

Use and Management of Manure and Other Organic and/or Prescribed Materials (Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Infosheet #17)

Guide to Weed Control: Hort Crops (OMAFRA publication 75B)

Vegetable Crop Protection Guide (OMAFRA publication 838)

Vegetable Production Information—Commercial Vegetable Production (OMAFRA)

Authors

Jordan Grigg, Cameron Ogilvie, and Laura Van Eerd, University of Guelph; and Anne Verhallen, OMAFRA (Note: This publication was adapted with consent from MCCC under a joint project to produce customized introductory guidance about cover crops for all member states/provinces.)

Reviewers and Contributors

Kris McNaughton, University of Guelph, and Elaine Roddy, OMAFRA

The Midwest Cover Crops Council (midwestcovercrops.org) aims to facilitate widespread adoption of cover crops throughout the U.S. Midwest and Ontario by providing educational/outreach resources and programs, conducting new research, and communicating about cover crops to the public.
Funding for this project was provided by McKnight Foundation.

November 2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ©2021 by MCCC. All rights reserved.

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Ontario Cover Crop Recipe – After Wheat, Going to Corn or Soybean: Use an Oat-Radish Mix

Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC-128)

University of Guelph (SAG-FS-21-003)

Download PDF

This publication is intended to provide a starting point for farmers who are new to growing cover crops. With experience, many farmers fine-tune the use of cover crops for their systems.

Introduction

This recipe provides an introductory approach to integrating a cover crop mix of oats and radish after wheat harvest going to corn or soybean the next year. Since both oat and radish can be sown after wheat harvest and usually winter-kill, it is a low-risk mix that will help control tough perennial weeds, minimize erosion, build soil structure, reduce compaction, and add some extra diversity to your rotation.

Planning and Preparation
  • Planning—Keep it simple. Start small on one field. Be timely. Prioritize cover crop management based on your goals. Fine-tune the recipe for your needs over time.
  • Wheat variety and planting—No modifications to wheat crop are required for the successful use of cover crops after wheat harvest.
  • Residual wheat herbicides—Oats and radish are tolerant of most herbicides applied to the wheat crop in-season before flag leaf emergence.
  • Seed purchase—Seed supplies and prices can vary depending on the time of year; it is good practice to order seed early (before wheat harvest). The ­Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has compiled a list of reputable cover crop seed suppliers (see Resources).
Summer/Fall Work
  • Wheat harvest—Ensure that straw and chaff are spread evenly. If residue levels are high or variable, consider removing the straw or using light tillage to improve seed-to-soil contact for the cover crop. However, light tillage will tend to synchronize volunteer wheat and cover crop emergence. Weeds can be sprayed after wheat harvest but before cover crop emergence.
  • Timing of planting—Plant the oat-radish mix up to late August after wheat harvest. Planting radish prior to August is not recommended as it may result in flowering and seed production instead of quick coverage and biomass accumulation.
  • Planting method—An oat-radish cover crop can be drilled at a depth of 0.50–0.75 inch or broadcast with light incorporation. If broadcasting, adjust to a half lap for spinner spreaders or use an airflow spreader to ensure even distribution of seeds. An oat-radish cover crop can be mixed and applied with P and K fertilizer for the following corn or soybean crop, and then lightly incorporated.
  • Seeding rate of oat and radish—Mix seeds prior to planting. For oat, use 30–60 lbs/acre. Use the higher end of that range if manure application and/or erosion control are your goals; use the lower end of that range if you are hoping to build soil structure or have land covered. Radish should be seeded at no more than 2 lbs/acre if drilling and 2–3 lbs/acre if broadcasting.
  • Tillage or no-tillage—Full-width tillage is not necessary and minimizes the benefits of soil cover over the winter. By the spring, there is typically very little residue (Figure 1).
  • Fertility or liming—Use a current soil test (no older than four years) to determine lime or nutrient requirements for the next year’s crop. Lime and fertilizers can be applied at the same time as seeding to reduce costs. Lime will need to be incorporated more deeply.
  • Manure—Up to 4 tonnes/acre of solid manure or litter can be surface-broadcast to growing oats and radish provided it is evenly distributed; otherwise it should be done prior to seeding. If injecting manure, low-disturbance injectors are available that will minimize damage to oats and radish. See Use and Management of Manure and Other Organic and/or Prescribed Materials in Resources for more information about recommended practices in Ontario.
Figure 1: Pictured is the spring residue of an oat and radish cover crop mix, which will usually winter-kill. If concerned about early spring warming and drying, select seeding rates on the lower end of the suggested range (OMAFRA).
Spring Work
  • Fertilizer—No modifications to a typical fertilizer program are required for planting corn or soybeans after an oat-radish cover crop mix.
  • Termination—Both oats and radish should winter-kill. However, mild winters and good snow cover sometimes allow overwintering of radish. If this occurs, it is easily terminated with typical pre-plant herbicide application for broadleaf weeds. Volunteer winter wheat may also be present and require termination.
  • Corn or soybean planting—It is usually best to no-till cash crops into the dead/dry or standing oat-radish residue. Almost all modern planters and drills are fully capable of planting corn into the expected low residues from an oat-radish mix. If there is a lot of residue, soils may be slower to dry and warm, which may delay planting. Check planting depth and seed furrow closure shortly after beginning to plant into the cover crop residue (Figure 1) as some adjustments may be needed. Based on scouting and field history, consider using treated seed to control insects and diseases, but oat-radish mix is not expected to increase pest pressure.
  • Scouting—After corn or soybean planting, scout for crop emergence and population. Additionally, scout for weeds since cover crop residue can delay the emergence of annual weeds, which may delay the application of any contact post-emergence herbicides.
Resources

Best Management Practices: Winter Cover Crops (OMAFRA)

Agronomy Guide for Field Crops (OMAFRA publication 811)

Cover Crop Selector Tool —available from Midwest Cover Crops Council

Use and Management of Manure and Other Organic and/or Prescribed Materials (Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Infosheet #17)

Authors

Jordan Grigg, Cameron Ogilvie, and Laura Van Eerd, University of Guelph; and Anne Verhallen, OMAFRA (Note: This publication was adapted with consent from MCCC under a joint project to produce customized introductory guidance about cover crops for all member states/provinces.)

Reviewers and Contributors

Joanna Follings, OMAFRA; David Hooker, University of Guelph; Tatianna Lozier, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority; Anne Vanasse, Université Laval; Marty Vermey, Grain Farmers of Ontario ­

The Midwest Cover Crops Council (midwestcovercrops.org) aims to facilitate widespread adoption of cover crops throughout the U.S. Midwest and Ontario by providing educational/outreach resources and programs, conducting new research, and communicating about cover crops to the public.
Funding for this project was provided by McKnight Foundation.

July 2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ©2021 by MCCC. All rights reserved.

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Minnesota-Wisconsin Cover Crop Recipe – Post Canning Crops: Use Oats with Radish

Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC-126)

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This publication is intended to provide a starting point for farmers who are new to growing cover crops. With experience, farmers may fine-tune the use of cover crops for their systems.

Introduction

A canning or processing crop such as green bean, sweet corn, or pea is harvested early or by midsummer and offers an excellent window to get adequate cover crop growth before any following crop. Cover crops following canning crops will protect soil from erosion and improve soil structure after heavy harvesting equipment is used to take off the canning crop. Some canning crops leave significant residual nitrogen (N) in the soil that is vulnerable to leaching, and a cover crop can retain that soil N for future crops. Since growers follow canning crops with any number of different rotations, a fast-growing species such as oats mixed with a light seeding of radish is a safe choice as both will winter-kill. With this combination, no spring termination is needed, and there is little chance of tying up N for the following year.

Planning and Preparation
  • Planning—Educate yourself. Go to field days, learn from farmers who are currently planting cover crops, read about cover crops, check out cover crop research results from local universities, and work with your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Identify your goals in planting a cover crop as these will drive many decisions. Start small, and choose a field that has low weed pressure to create the best conditions for success. Consult with your crop insurance representative to ensure planned practices will not affect your insurance coverage.
  • Canning crop management—Follow best management practices regarding fertility and weed management, and make sure to notify the canning company that you’re planning on a cover crop after a canning crop harvest.
  • Residual herbicides—Commonly used herbicides can negatively impact cover crop establishment, so check the history of herbicide application for your field. Oats can tolerate many preemergence and postemergence herbicides. However, if the oats/radish biomass is to be grazed or used for feed or forage, you must follow the rotational crop restrictions listed on the label of any applied herbicides. Rotational restrictions should be checked for herbicides used in the current and previous cropping season if the cover crop is to be grazed or used for feed or forage. (See Using Herbicides and Cover Crops in Corn and Soybean in Resources.)
  • Seed purchase—Order cover crop seed early from a reputable source. If you grow your own, get it tested for germination, purity, and weed seed. Named varieties can produce more growth and have more predictable development, but they are usually more expensive than VNS (variety not stated) seed. Use good quality seed that has been cleaned and tested for germination and weed seed contamination. Utilize local sources of seed as much as possible to help prevent the introduction of invasive noxious weeds such as Palmer amaranth.
  • Fertility or manure—Fall fertilizer incorporation could damage the cover crop and destroy any structure gained, so plan to apply any needed fertility after the cover crop has winter-killed. If manure will be applied in the fall, use low-disturbance injectors to minimize damage to the cover crop.
Summer/Fall Field Work
  • Timing of cover crop planting—After canning crop harvest, some light tillage may be necessary to create a seedbed for the cover crop. Using a leveling tool such as a vertical tillage bar with an air seeder on top allows for tilling and seeding the cover crop at the same time. Try to time seeding when rain is in the forecast, or if you use irrigation, you can water in the seed for reliable establishment.
  • Planting method—Drill the seed to a depth of 0.75 inch, or broadcast the seed with a shallow incorporation to less than 1 inch to allow for good seed-to-soil contact and enhanced establishment.
  • Seeding rate—For oats, a minimum seeding rate of 21 lbs./acre of pure live seed (PLS) is suggested when seed is drilled or incorporated. The seeding rate should be increased to a minimum of 45 lbs./acre of PLS if broadcast. For radish, the rate is 1.2 lbs./acre if drilled or incorporated, and 1.7 lbs./acre if broadcast. These rates are based on a mixture of 70% oats–30% radish. If another ratio is desired, rates should be adjusted using the Minnesota Cover Crop Design Tool (see Resources).
  • Tillage—No fall tillage is needed. The oat/radish residue will freeze, then decompose over the winter, and a cash crop such as field corn or soybeans can be no-tilled into the residue if you wish. While full-width tillage may be used in the spring, this will reduce soil structural improvements the cover crop provided over the winter.
  • Future considerations—An oat/radish mixture is promoted here as the entry-level cover crop mixture post-canning crop. In future years, you may consider grasses that survive the winter (e.g., winter rye or triticale) for spring erosion control or legumes (e.g., crimson clover, which winter-kills, or red clover, which survives the winter) to supply N to the next cash crop. However, both of these options will have separate considerations and management recommendations. Use the Cover Crop Selector Tool (see Resources), or visit with local representatives of NRCS or Extension for more specific information on seeding other species.
Figures 1 and 2: An oat-radish mixture planted Aug. 25 in Dakota County, MN, pictured on Sept. 24 (top) and on Oct. 14 (bottom). (Ashley Gallagher, Dakota SWCD)
Spring Work
  • Scouting—In the spring, scout the remaining cover crop residue, and note whether any oat seed that remained dormant over the winter begins to sprout in the spring. Any grass-target herbicide should take care of these escapes.
  • Cash crop planting—Most modern row planters are fully capable of planting corn or soybeans into residue from a dead oat/radish cover crop. Row cleaner attachments may be beneficial. Check planting depth and seed furrow closure shortly after beginning to plant in case any planter adjustments are needed, such as increasing down pressure to move through increased residue.
  • Scouting after planting—After planting, scout for emergence and population as well any insect, disease, or weed pressure.
Resources

University of Minnesota Extension Cover Crop website

Cover Crop Selector Tool —available from Midwest Cover Crops Council

Minnesota NRCS Resources, including Minnesota Cover Crop Design Tool

USDA-NRCS Cover Crop Termination Guidelines

Using Herbicides and Cover Crops in Corn and Soybean (University of Minnesota Extension)

Authors

Anna Cates, University of Minnesota Extension; Ashley Gallagher, Dakota Soil and Water Conservation District (Minnesota); Steve Lawler, Mower Soil and Water Conservation District (Minnesota); and Matt Ruark, University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension

Reviewers and Contributors

Carl Rosen, University of Minnesota; Ken Schroeder and Dan Smith, University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension; and Carissa Spencer, Minnesota NRCS

The Midwest Cover Crops Council (www.https://www.midwestcovercrops.org) aims to facilitate widespread adoption of cover crops throughout the Midwest by providing educational/outreach resources and programs, conducting new research, and communicating about cover crops to the public.
Funding for this project was provided by McKnight Foundation.

March 2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ©2021 by MCCC. All rights reserved.

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The Midwest Cover Crop Council was first organized in 2006. Since its inception the organization has grown into a community that facilitates the sharing of cover crop knowledge within the Midwest and beyond.

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