(photo: Kendell Kubasch / KRWC Radio)
Many farmers across the listening region are dealing with drowned-out acreage following recent storms and from generally wet weather throughout May and June.
Taylor Herbert is a Crop Specialist with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. She says in many cases, it’s too late for a re-plant of a cash crop, but planting a cover crop for the remainder of the year may be a good option…
“It might take a little bit of time to dry out, but when it does, I think folks can start thinking about what to do with some of those drowned-out areas. So, one of the best things to do would be to plant a cover crop. This will help control weeds that might crop up, and we don’t want those weeds to go to seed. The other benefit will be that cover crops can help prevent erosion and provide some root mass there to help prevent that fallow syndrome.”
Herbert says there are a number of good cover crops that can work well depending on soil types. She recommends consulting with your farm’s seed salesperson, or for help from the U of M, email at; therbert@umn.edu, or call (763) 682-7394.
