Another Reminder to Plant Cover Crops After Corn Silage Harvest

As corn silage harvest is winding down, we want to send another reminder of the importance and value of planting a cover crop for soil erosion protection, nutrient recycling, restoring the health of compacted soil, and even using the cover crop for spring forage.

As corn silage harvest wraps up and is put away for winter feed, the barren stubble ground should be covered. It is a great opportunity to seed fields back and allow for absorption of rain and snow over the winter, mitigate soil erosion, and provide early spring forage. Seed those fields ideally with a no till drill using the most winter hardy species cereal rye, triticale, or wheat as the planting window of other species has already closed (particularly in the colder regions of Pennsylvania). These three small grains begin growth in the fall, go dormant over the winter and then begin growing rapidly in the spring to complete their growth cycle. While all three of these crops can be harvested for grain in early to mid-summer, they can provide exceptional forage for cattle if taken off prior to seed head formation ("boot" stage). Along with the quality of forage that these crops provide, they also serve as a protective barrier between the soil and the atmosphere. This year was another reminder of severe weather we often experience during the spring “thaw”, showing the importance of a cover crop to keep soil in place and protect it from nutrient loss.

Considerations to take into account when applying a cover crop are as follows: proper timing of the seeding application (see table below), drill specifications (plant 1-1.5" deep), and seeding rates (60-120 lbs./A) depending on whether a mix is planted or an individual crop species. Soil testing is available and strongly recommended if no basis of the field is known.

*Fields that have a higher fertility, planting dates can be slightly relaxed. Two weeks later planting with favorable outcomes still.

For more information about cover crops and early season spring forages on your farm, please contact your local extension field and forage educator.