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Soil health specialist cautions use of cover crops in drought areas

An extension soil health specialist does not recommend cover crops in drought-stricken areas this fall.

Abbey Wick with North Dakota State University tells Brownfield if it’s too dry, the cover won’t get established.

“So I’ve been working with farmers to manage their residue out the back of the combine, and make sure they can plant into that next year. Or holding off on their tillage passes till later because it’s not economical in some cases to seed those cover crop mixes.”

But she says there are exceptions.

“If you keep it cheap enough and can stomach the cost of it, then I’d say go for it. We’re starting to get a few rains now, but just keep those mixes inexpensive.”

Brownfield interviewed Wick during a field day Wednesday hosted by Peterson Farms Seed.