Growers Visit Juniperdale Farm to View Cover Crops

Brian Fulmer of Juniper Dale Farm in Pen Argyl, PA told a group of local farmers his reasons for wanting to experiment with cover crops this year: To keep the soil in place, as well as to increase the nitrogen supply in his soil for sweet corn next year. “In other words,” he says, “the whole nine yards.”

Northampton County Cooperative Extension is taking part in an 11-county wide study of cover crops in Pennsylvania. They are using 15 different crops including: Aroostock Rye, Tillage Radish, Oats, Crimson Clover, Annual Ryegrass, Wheat, Triticale, Austrian Winter Pea, Hairy Vetch (Lancaster County), Hairy Vetch (Texas), Persian Clover, and Red Clover, as well as different combinations of the plants. The experiment looks at how well the different cover crops grow in local conditions and the most effective planting time.

Each plant has its own advantage. Winter pea is high in nitrogen. Rye has excellent nutrient uptake ability. Tillage radishes work as a “bio drill” (it breaks up the soil for your future crops). But they also have their disadvantages (some are very hard to control). After walking around the 15 different plots and discussing the soil and cost benefits of the different crops, the group of cover crop-curious farmers were left on their own to decide which cover would be the best for their own farms and soils.

Remember cover crops are an excellent way to stem soil erosion and depending on the crop you choose, can help enrich your soil with nutrients leading to healthier crops in the years to come.

Innovative Cover Crops

Despite heavy mud and threats of rain more than 100 people came to Groff’s field day at Cedar Meadow Farm October 28th. Organized by Cooperative Extension folks came out to see novel cover crops and combinations.
Groff collected cover crop seed from Europe, Australia, the Midwest and the West to trial alongside old favorites from our area. “The prices for cover crop seed are always fluctuating,” says Groff, “If we can find additional cover crop varieties that do well in our area that will give us greater options if vetch or other seed becomes too expensive.” Combinations and unusual cover crops might also provide additional benefits, such as building soil structure.
A few highlights:
Tillage Radish is a forage radish that Groff grows for seed and promotes for its ability to break up hard pans. The fine roots projecting from a large tap root corkscrew through compacted soil providing a channel for crop roots and water infiltration. Groff’s latest interest is planting radish at a low rate of 2-3 lbs/ acre with wheat. “The word mellow is most popular,” Groff said for soil after radishes or radish small grain combinations.
Indian Head lentil was one experimental legume cover crop Groff planted. He brought it from the Midwest where they love it. “You would think if it grows in North Dakota it would grow here,” Groff said. But in Pennsylvania we have dramatic freeze thaw cycles and Indian Head lentil seems to fail most years. In comparison Early Cover vetch seems to tolerate freeze thaw cycles the best.
Although Common Vetch does not over winter well it may have an important niche. Seed is generally less expensive $30-$40 per acre versus $50 per acre for Hairy Vetch. For early planting, Hairy Vetch will not over winter either. It tends to smother if it is too massive going into winter. Common Vetch may provide nitrogen at a lower price where you want to plant early.
Phacelia is grown on thousands of acres in Europe, but virtually unknown in the US except where it is grown to attract beneficial insects in California. The fine root structure of Phacelia is thought to build soil more quickly than anything else. However, plots at Groff’s were less than impressive. One lesson learned is the seeding rate must be higher. The germination rate is only 50% and so a rate of 10lbs/acre may be more appropriate than the 5lbs/acre we saw. Another caution with Phacelia is it is a host for Sclerotinia. Don’t plant it where you will plant beans.