Albert Lea Seed House 2017 Cover Crop Seed Guide

BIOMASS COVER CROPS 06 Winter rye and hairy vetch Tillage Radish • The radish that started it all; oilseed radish bred specifically for its long taproot • Breaks up plowpan & loosens soil • Excellent scavenger of N, P & Ca • Non-bolting if planted in the fall Planting Date: July 15th - September 15th Seeding: 6-10 lbs/acre Price/lb Conventional 1-499 lb 500-1999 lb 2000+ lbs $2.15 $2.00 $1.85 Cover Crop Radish* Economical oilseed radish variety that will mitigate compaction and scavenge nutrients. Specifically bred for taproot production. Should not bolt in the fall. Customer feedback and our own trials have detected no difference in growth and development between this radish and other named radish brands. We blend this radish in our mixes because it has optimum performance and lowers overall seeding costs for our customers. Should winterkill in the upper-Midwest, but we have seen radish winter in our environment in mild years. • Vigorous growth and taproot growth accumulates leachable nutrients, protects soil, improve infiltration and mitigate compaction • Well adapted to all soil types, except wet areas. • Plants will break down completely by spring; no need for aggressive fall or spring tillage. Plan on light field cultivation in the spring for optimum seedbed prep. • Not suitable for spring planting; will bolt and shed seed Planting Date: July 15th - September 15th Seeding: 6-10 lbs/acre 1-499 lb 500-1999 lb 2000+ lbs Conventional $1.60 $1.45 $1.30 Organic $4.20 $4.05 $3.90 Price/lb Cover Crop Oats* Economical oat blend suitable for cover cropping and fall forage. Oats are fast establishing, produce abundant biomass, and are competitive with weeds. Fibrous root system builds soil structure and captures excess nutrients. Oats are good scavengers of P and other soil nutrients. Easy to control and can fit into almost any rotation. Oats will winterkill. • Cost-effective cover crop choice for soil coverage in the in fall • Excellent biomass production and fall forage potential (more than annual ryegrass) • Best fit after small grains, vegetables, corn silage or early soybeans. Not a good fit after grain corn or soybeans • We’ve seen limited aerial application success with oats Planting Date: August 1st - September 15th Seeding: Seed 3 bu/acre straight and ½ to 2 bu/acre in a mixture Conventional _______________$6.50/bu $9.75/48lb bag Bulk $5.50/bu Organic __________________ $11.00/bu $16.50/48lb bag Winter Rye* Most common and most hardy fall-seeded cover crop in northern climates. It can be grazed deep into the fall, competes heavily with weeds and produces lots of forage/green manure in the spring. Will germinate down to 35°F soil temp. Excellent feed value as forage with protein levels up to 18%. • Best used as a cover crop, forage crop and/or grain crop • Well adapted to all soil types including low fertility, acidic or sandy soils • Can be planted deep into the fall (basically until the snow flies) • Can suppress germination of following crops (esp. small seeded crops). It is recommended to allow biomass to decompose for 7-10 days prior to planting • Heavy N and water user in the spring. Kill early if drought is forecasted Planting Date: August 1st - November 30th Seeding: 50-100 lbs/acre for cover cropping and 100 lbs/ acre for grain/spring forage. Price/bag 1-9 bags 10-39 40-199 200+ bags bags bags Conventional ASK ASK ASK ASK Organic ASK ASK ASK ASK Winter Rye* 80% Germination Morex Barley* • A cheap option for cover cropping • Excellent for fall forage and grazing Planting Date: August 1st - September 15th Seeding: 2 bu/acre straight or ½ - 1½ bu/acre in a mixture Conventional ___________ $9.00/48lb bag Organic ______________ $18.00/48lb bag Price/bag Conventional 1-9 bags 10-39 40-199 200+ bags bags bags $10.50 $8.50 $8.00 $7.50

Albert Lea Seed House 2017 Cover Crop Seed Guide | Page 6