Soil HEALTH
Rye Spring 2022 - Rye cover crop planted in the fall 2021 after silage. There was enough spring growth for grazing prior to planting the 2022 soybean crop.
CROP ROTATIONS, COVER CROPS ARMOR SOIL AGAINST WEATHER EXTREMES
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xtreme weather and soaring input costs has producers in situations where they may consider extending their crop rotation and/or adding cover crops to their system. Farmers need to weigh their program, insurance, and agronomic options to ensure long term profitability. Diversified rotations and cover crops can provide crop residue as armor for the soil surface and protect it from wind and water erosion. Diversifying crop rotations also helps break troublesome weed, insect, and disease cycles. “Additional benefits from residue or cover crops include stabilizing soil temperatures, suppressing weeds, and adding nutrients,” explains Jason Miller, Conservation Agronomist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Pierre, SD. With the markets, some farmers may have planted soybeans for a second year on fields that grew a bean crop last year. Much of that soybean residue will have decomposed by the next season so Miller encourages reviewing the crop rotation for how to rebuild the residue to protect the soil. Miller recommends to “have a mixture of low and high residue producing crops in your rotation, and sequencing those to always have residue cover for soil armor,” Miller said. “Diversified rotations with corn, wheat, and other small grains are high in carbon, and the residue left behind after harvest, have a role in protecting the ground and benefiting soil health.” explains Miller. Cover crops can build considerable yield potential for the following crops when managed correctly. Cover crops have the
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12” rye cover crop producing roots extending more than 7 inches in the soil profile by May 4, 2021 help to use excess moisture to prep soil for planting equipment. Summer Issue 2022
SDSL
