Selecting Cover Crops - Dave Robison

A presentation by Dave Robison of Legacy Seeds at the National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health.
This session addressed the relative pros and cons of various cover crop species, including the less common cover crops and cover crops suited to grazing use. The Midwest Cover Crops Council selection tool for cover crops was also discussed.
Learn more at www.sare.org/co....

[@Ladyhawk47]

I find it so fascinating what goes on under the surface, the life forms of the the soil (when it's healthy) and the way those millions of microbes and fungi interact with the plants' (roots) to fix nitrogen and produce nitrogen. I'm anxious to get back to my land after all the studying I'm doing in school to put these to test and to help other farmers with permaculture orchard/ garden projects.

[@jimboak613]

Dr Richard Vogel from U of VA said a few years ago that "our knowledge of what is happening below the soil surface is a "black hole" in our knowledge and we are still at that point where we don't even know what questions are yet there are to ask." Maybe you can discover those questions when you graduate. Best regards Jim

[@davidbass7593]

May I add that these methods work in garden application as well I use Dutch clover and rye on mine I've noticed a huge difference in soil improvement

[@EDLaw-wo5it]

Excellent video. Good information for this new gardener. Thanks.

[@kevinklingner3098]

There are also Persian and Egyptian clovers which get quite tall and do very well on a wide range of soil types and plant types.

[@john1boggity56]

Such a great resource !!!!!

[@jimboak613]

Medium red clover can be planted after wheat harvest using vertical tillage in Ontario and perform really well.

[@harrybowen3285]

Jim Boak do you have to use pesticides with that method?

[@allisonaclark9559]

We are first time farmers learning alot from SARE videos and the website. THANK YOU! Please could you offer some advice on a no till approach to compacted clay soil. Tha land is planted up with long grass/ hay at the moment, and this is harvested with a tractor over the last 20 years by the previous owners of the land. We would like to plant a cover crop to build the soil. We have no machines and will need to do everything by hand until we can earn from the land. How should we do the first planting of a cover crop: Could we plant directly into this compacted clay soil without tilling or till just the first time? My instinct is to not disturb the soil and try to establish a series of cover crops for 3 seasons before planting trees or a commercial crop. We want to avoid using machines or tilling. What is your advice?

[@SAREOutreach1]

Hi Allison- thanks for your question. We're not in a position to offer technical expertise, but you may find some help from our book Managing Cover Crops Profitably at www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Books/Managing-Cover-Crops-Profitably-3rd-Edition. Our cover crops topic room at www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Topic-Rooms/Cover-Crops might also provide you with some assistance. For advice appropriate to your area, please consult your local cooperative extension office (nifa.usda.gov/land-grant-colleges-and-universities-partner-website-directory?state=All&type=Extension) or refer to one of the following organizations: search.extension.org/, attra.ncat.org/, or mccc.msu.edu/.

[@ciarataylor702]

Frost seed red clover or others that can be frost seeded by hand

[@aperson1181]

What is the difference in Nitrogen fixing vs scavenging, clover vs radish what do they do for the soil ? What type of clover is best, crimson vs dutch ? Can you plant is your garden a nitrogen fixing and not scavenging ?

[@SAREOutreach1]

See www.morningagclips.com/cover-crops-and-nitrogen-cycling/ for a discussion about nitrogen fixation vs scavenging.

[@kevinmcgrath1052]

Excellent video

[@colonialroofingofnorthcaro441]

Love these videos but the only down side for me is they talk in farming terms that alot of us don't understand, inoculation, what is that and how do you inoculate your plants, so I learned that needs to be done some times byt I didn't learn what it is and how to do it unless planting these cover crops is how you do it which wasn't for me made plan, and I'd just like them to talk like the people know nothing, I'm trying to learn so the newbie is the lagging in the class but with simple instruction we'd come around quickly

[@aaronlohr8477]

As a home gardener all you really need to do is add more cow shit and mulch. That is 90% of what you can do to make your garden great.

[@ianutube22]

​@@aaronlohr8477 agreed, for small scale this works. Cover crop works for both small and large scale given you have the right equipment. I'm also a bit of a newbie myself.

[@johnadair6108]

thanks much!

[@roberttillotson6861]

You should have stated root depth of each cover crop.

[@Dollapfin]

Balansa clover? I think it can outperform the crimson and will overwinter most places.

[@ekcoylejr]

What should zone9, in west florida be using for cover crops? Soil is very loamy here and it doesn't get much lower than mid 40's.

[@SAREOutreach1]

Check out SARE's cover crop topic room at www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Topic-Rooms/Cover-Crops/Cover-Crops-Selection-and-Management for resources on cover crop selection and management.

[@Horse237]

Inoculate seeds with what? Please define terms.

[@SAREOutreach1]

articles.extension.org/pages/64401/legume-inoculation-for-organic-farming-systems

[@Horse237]

Thanks for your help. I bookmarked the whole site.

[@kevinklingner3098]

If you want a good winter grain legume for heavy soils non better than faba beans if you have cool mild wet summers the will out perform anything else an go along way to ameoleorating soil issues N

[@kevinklingner3098]

Haifa white clover and some of the other newer one are great to. Berseem handle s dry condition well get s very tall. cow peas are better great as they get right to ten feet tall is season is excellant. White lupin on lighter soils is excellant too. There is also seradella which is an excellant persistor.

[@kevinklingner3098]

Rye grass ( annual l) is resistant to stomp and roundup it will get ergot fungal toxicity for livestock. But it will help hold clovers up instead allowing them to collapse flat on the ground. If you are having summer grass spray resistance issues you will have it with ryegrass.

[@b_uppy]

Clovers are usually too high a protein for horses.

[@musicgroopie1]

I'm concerned about cover crops such as turnips. Texas gas a feral hog population scourge . Turnips would be an inviting crop and there goes your fence and your fields would be a giant rooted up mess. The only animal that can plow soil better than a tractor is hogs

[@thebestdirt]

good info

[@aspenram3885]

Bro... I'm always thinking about turnips. Send help D:

[@deanosphenos7960]

CONGRATS TO ALL THE FIGHTERS! THIS AIN'T AN EASY SPORT. \\//, LIVE FREE & STAY IRIE \\//,