Keeping the soil covered until spring

Hennepin County staff worked with a local farmer in Independence to plant a winter cover crop of cereal rye. The farmer was looking for a way to protect his soil over winter after harvesting oats. Keeping vegetation or residue on top of farm fields and a living root are great ways to ensure that soil is protected from precipitation and the freeze/thaw cycle of fall, winter, and spring.

The seed was planted using a no-till drill rented from neighboring Carver County Soil and Water Conservation District and pulled behind a small tractor. The implement cuts a small slit into the soil, deposits the seed, and then covers up the disturbed area. This is an ideal way to seed a cover crop since it keeps soil disturbance to a minimum.

Cover crop benefits

The farmer planted nearly 20 acres of cereal rye into his field after oats were harvested in early September. Cereal rye is an outstanding winter cover crop in Minnesota since it is extremely cold tolerant, allowing it to grow late into the season. Additionally, this crop is great at reducing erosion, and its fast and large growth will help reduce weeds trying to grow in the spring. The cover crop will be terminated before spring seeding, ensuring that the soil is covered with plant residue the entirety of winter and into the spring growing season.

Since this was the first time the farmer had tried cover crops, Hennepin County staff helped to develop the seeding rate and coordinated rental of the implement used for planting. The farmer also received a flat rate incentive payment for cover crops planted on each acre. If you’re in need of a no-till drill, several surrounding soil and water conservation districts have them available to Hennepin County residents for rental, and Hennepin County staff can help to get it to your field.

Find more resources for managing rural and agricultural land.