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Minnesota Corn Growers investing in cover crop research

The Minnesota Corn Growers Association is investing in cover crop research.

MCGA is supporting several field plots throughout the state using on-farm demonstrations and experimentation to identify best practices.

Research director Paul Meints says geography is a factor.

“One of the difficulties in Minnesota is a very short growing season in the fall to get cover crops established.”

Another challenge is getting a cover crop established into standing corn or soybeans, but Meints says this fall sets up well for experimenting.

“Harvest seems a little bit early, and this is a prime opportunity for farmers interested in cover crops with a lingering warm fall.  This would be a great time for them to try it on limited acres if they haven’t already done so.  Just to see if they can get something established (and) find some protocols that work on their farm.”

He tells Brownfield winter rye has proven to be a popular cover crop in Minnesota.

“It has a very low soil temperature tolerance for germination, so it will establish in those cooler soil temperatures we customarily have in the fall.  It also seems to hold really well; it’s got a real fibrous and vigorous root system.”

Meints says one challenge with winter rye can be terminating it in the spring, but it’s probably the primary cover crop at this point.