swcs presentation chris july 2015

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COVER CROP DECISION MAKINGSuccess Starts from the Ground Up

Chris McCracken, Business Development LeadLa Crosse Seed

SUCCESS… FROM THE GROUND UP

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WHO IS LA CROSSE SEED?

• Company originated in 1947• Headquartered in La Crosse, Wisconsin• Focus on forage, turf and cover crop seeds and complementary

products• Sales Team: 17 Regional Sales Managers covering upper Midwest

• Operations: 6 physical locations + 2 hubs• Our primary market is input supply companies (ag retailers & seed dealers)• No different than NRCS/SWCD & other agencies, land-grants, our work on cover

crops include engaging new users and promoting sound agronomics• OUR MESSAGE: “LEAD YOUR GROWERS into the next era of agriculture”


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WHO IS LA CROSSE SEED?

• Our primary market is input supply companies (ag retailers, seed dealers, landscape contractors, feed and hardware stores)

• Not typically dealing with the end user, but work to influence their decisions

• No different than NRCS/SWCD, our work on cover crops includes engaging new users and promoting sound agronomics• It makes sense to work together whenever possible


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COVER CROP CONCLUSIONS

• Continue the message of planning early• Recognize small grains represent an easier transition for

producers to begin cover cropping•With all the agronomy decisions that factor into a cash crop,

adding another crop needs to be as simple as possible for the first-time farmer


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DECISION MAKING

• Not just about price / price per acre / price per LB• Agronomy decisions happen every day that greatly impact a

potential cover crop planting• Think real world when integrating cover crops on new acres and

new farmers• Does it make sense to start with 2-3 components/species OR

should 10-15 products be positioned?


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DECISION MAKING




should 10-15 products be positioned? • THINK REAL WORLD!


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DECISION MAKING




should 10-15 products be positioned? • THINK REAL WORLD!• THROUGH THE EYES OF THE 1st TIME USER


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MESSAGE FOR THE GROWER

•Cover crop use in 2014 driven more by time (or lack of time) than anything else (Versus commodity pricing)• Farmers still need to PLAN!• Procure Seed• Allocate Labor• Get Equipment Ready• Make Contingency Plans• AND Plan even earlier next year• Plan out Crop Rotations• Arrange for Herbicides Rotations• Consider Hybrid & Variety Maturities


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3 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

•What is my goal and/or what am I trying to accomplish?•Can I plant a cover crop to achieve my goal given my

current cropping system (and when is my current planting window)?•Am I willing to make the changes necessary (a real

COMMITMENT) in order to succeed with this added cover crop?


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WHY DO COVER CROPS FAIL?

From all parts of the country, the answer’s the same……• Not enough time and labor for establishment•Mother Nature didn’t cooperate (not enough or too much water)• Agronomic factors not taken into consideration• Herbicide interactions• Timing of planting• Proper seed placement & seeding depth


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HERBICIDE RESTRICTIONS• Planting cover crops in the fall requires producers to keep in mind the

‘rotational restriction’ of the herbicides that were applied in the previous crop.• Most herbicide labels do not list the species used for cover crops (like radish or

cereal rye) and thus fall under the “OTHER CROPS” section on the label.• Still a lot to learn in identifying the appropriate rotational restrictions for many

popular cover crops used today and commonly used corn and soybean herbicides.

FROM WISCONSIN:http://wcws.cals.wisc.edu/new-fact-sheet-herbicide-rotation-restrictions-in-forage-and-cover-cropping-systems/FROM NEBRASKA, MISSOURI, PURDUE & PENN STATE TOO

Still a big piece of the

puzzle

http://wcws.cals.wisc.edu/new-fact-sheet-herbicide-rotation-restrictions-in-forage-and-cover-cropping-systems/



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HERBICIDE RESTRICTIONS• Planting cover crops in the fall requires producers to keep in mind the

‘rotational restriction’ of the herbicides that were applied in the previous crop.• Most herbicide labels do not list the species used for cover crops (like radish or

cereal rye) and thus fall under the “OTHER CROPS” section on the label.• Still a lot to learn in identifying the appropriate rotational restrictions for many

popular cover crops used today and commonly used corn and soybean herbicides.

FROM WISCONSIN:http://wcws.cals.wisc.edu/new-fact-sheet-herbicide-rotation-restrictions-in-forage-and-cover-cropping-systems/FROM NEBRASKA, MISSOURI, PURDUE & PENN STATE TOO


puzzle

Google any of these land grant universities and add

“cover crop herbicide rotations”

It’s not 100% complete, but it’s better than where we were just a

few years ago




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HERBICIDE RESTRICTIONS

• Recognize that the herbicide label is the law• Understand that chemical half-lifes are what we are concerned with• Several factors can influence the residual life of pesticides in soil• Rainfall• Tillage• Soil type

• If successful cover crop establishment is still in question, it’s best to conduct a soil bio-assay

• Collect soil from 1”-6” and mix together• Plant the planned cover crop seeds


puzzle


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COVER CROPS SHOULD MATCH DESIRED C:N RATIOMaterial C:N Ratiorye straw 82:1wheat straw 80:1oat straw 70:1corn stover 57:1rye cover crop (anthesis) 37:1rye cover crop (vegetative) 26:1mature alfalfa hay 25:1Balanced Microbial Diet 24:1rotted barnyard manure 20:1daikon radish 19:1legume hay 17:1beef manure 17:1ryegrass (vegetative) 15:1young alfalfa hay 13:1hairy vetch 11:1soil microbes (average) 8:1


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COVER CROPS SHOULD MATCH DESIRED C:N RATIOWhy is the Carbon : Nitrogen ratio so important?

• Carbon : Nitrogen ratios greater than 24:1 will often need additional N for the following crop.

Species added to the soil with a C:N ratio greater than 24:1 will likely result in a temporary nitrogen deficit (immobilization) that will need to be managed

• Species with a C:N ratio lower than 24:1 will result in a temporary nitrogen surplus (mineralization)

• The larger the C:N ratio, the slower the decomposition rate, meaning nitrogen and other nutrients could be tied up if not managed properly. Terminating grass cover crops in the vegetative stage is the recommendation when going to a high-nitrogen use crop like corn.


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DATA & RESEARCH

• What is La Crosse Seed doing?• Partnering with Soil Health Partnership, ISA On-Farm Network, and

looking for more where it makes sense• Teaming up with Monsanto & Pioneer and other seed companies,

providing them seed, seeding recommendations, and termination instruction for their plots across the Midwest• Semi-replicated NFI plots in the Midwest• Numerous trials across many farms looking at how various cover crops

germinate, overwinter, and react to termination treatments• Working with several land grant universities across the Midwest• ASTA Working Group (Cover Crops / Pollinators)• Numerous RCPP alliances for 2015 & 2016


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DATA & RESEARCH

• What is La Crosse Seed doing?• Partnering with Soil Health Partnership, ISA On-Farm Network, and

looking for more where it makes sense• Teaming up with Monsanto & Pioneer and other seed companies,

providing them seed, seeding recommendations, and termination instruction for their plots across the Midwest• Semi-replicated NFI plots in the Midwest• Numerous trials across many farms looking at how various cover crops

germinate, overwinter, and react to termination treatments• Working with several land grant universities across the Midwest• ASTA Working Group (Cover Crops / Pollinators)• Numerous RCPP alliances for 2015 & 2016

What’s available and coming?• Tons more data on N & P

scavenge and release• Tools to help farmers plug in

there current cash crop maturities to better guide cover crop fall plantings

• Improved herb. termination recommendations from our partners across the Midwest

• Prevent plant resources• Our New APP is running

• Seeding rates and characteristics

• Order capability too


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THANK YOU!La Crosse Seed

www.sare.org/www.mccc.msu.edu/

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swcs presentation chris july 2015

Environment