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Early spring cover crop management

A long time no-till and cover crop advocate has some advice for those new to cover crops.

Dave Brandt of Fairfield County Ohio says the key to cover crop management in the spring is letting them grow.

“Don’t kill it too early, unless we start and it becomes dry, then you’ll have to manage it,” Brandt said. “I suggest they let it grow until they plant into it, or kill it just ahead of planting and they’ll see lots of benefits, and reduce their nutrients by as much as their cover crop cost them.”

Brandt says the combination of no-till, which he started using back the late 70s and cover crops has reduced their chemical outlay by 50% and has reduced the amount of N, P and K on his farm by as much as 75 percent.

Audio: Dave Brandt, farmer, Fairfield County Ohio