Cover Crops

Figure 1. Seasonal ecology of wheat stem maggot (Allen 1933) overlaid on 2017 field issues. Arrows indicate likely source of infestation started with adult movement in the spring.

Wheat Stem Maggot Adult Monitoring: A Pest of Cover Crop-to-Corn Transitions

April 25, 2018

This article looks at wheat stem maggots in cover crops-to-corn transitions, including their biology, risk for damage to early season corn, and what to look for this spring.

Cereal rye in corn stubble — Figure 1. Cereal rye planted as a cover crop in many fields is slow-growing this spring. Combining a cover crop termination and PRE application may be a valuable time-saver this year, if used correctly.

Q&A on Terminating Cereal Rye, Applying a PRE

April 25, 2018

A grower asked: My cereal rye cover crop is only 3 to 5 inches tall going into planting season. Can I combine two field operations in one by applying glyphosate to terminate cereal rye and tank-mixing it with a residual herbicide for early season weed control?

Cover crop field with mixed-species plantings — Later season field of cover crops in southeastern Nebraska. (Photo by Paul Jasa)

Timing of Cover Crop Termination and Related Factors

April 20, 2018

Should the cold spring delay cover crop termination? Growers walk a fine line between growing cover crops long enough to get the biomass they want without reducing yield in the following grain crop. This discussion from an agronomist, entomologist and weed scientist looks at various factors to consider.

Q&A on Grazing Cereal Rye after an Anhydrous Application

April 19, 2018

This week a CropWatch reader asked: Can you safely graze cover crop rye this spring after anhydrous has been applied? That depends on several factors, write three extension specialists in agronomy and beef production.

Insects in Cover Crop Systems

April 6, 2018

If you missed the March 14 Nebraska Extension webinar on "Insects in Cover Crop Systems" with Justin McMechan, it's now available online.

Manure application into cereal rye cover crop in the fall

Research Updates

April 4, 2018

Briefs on university crop research, this week featuring flame weeding research in northeast Nebraska and the effects of liquid manure injection into a winter rye cover crop as tested in on-farm trials in Minnesota.

Soybean seedlings in no-till field — Figure 1. With almost 100% residue cover, this soil surface is protected from raindrop impact, greatly reducing erosion and crusting. The residue will also reduce evaporation by keeping the sun and wind off the soil surface. (Photos by Paul Jasa)

Building Resilient Soil Systems using Residue, No-till, and Cover Crops

March 29, 2018

Crop residue, cover crops, and no-till farming practices can provide a positive buffering effect to changes in climate and extreme weather events. Together they can help keep more water and soil on-farm and contribute to improved soil health.

Figure 1. Rye cover crop planted in small sections of field for erosion control. Center photo shows a section of ground where cover crop did not establish with normally developing plants. Damaged corn plants were primarily restricted to areas where cover crop was present.

Wheat Stem Maggot in Corn: Plan on Scouting Your Cover Crop Fields This Spring

March 8, 2018

Wheat stem maggots were an issue for some eastern and southern Nebraska farmers planting corn directly into a growing cover crop, leading to questions about how to best manage this scenario in 2018. Learn why entomologists don't recommend adding an insecticide to the herbicide when terminating the cover crop.

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