Planting Wheat
All Planting Wheat Content
Fertilizer Placed With the Seeds in Dry Soil Conditions
Climate patterns can shift from wet to dry very quickly. A current consideration is thinking about seed injury from furrow-placed fertilizers, and there are notable differences among crops for tolerance of seed-placed fertilizers.
Economics of Different Crop Rotation Systems in South Dakota
Economic returns are an important factor to consider when selecting crop rotation systems.
Crop Rotation Potential: Improving Soil Health & Farm Profitability
Two-year corn-soybean rotation coupled with heavy chemical inputs has become the routine practice of agricultural production in the Midwestern United States. According to USDA/NASS data, corn and soybean prices received by producers in South Dakota both reached the peak levels of $7.39 and $16.00 per bushel, respectively, in August, 2012.
Cover Crop Usage in South Dakota is on the Rise
The number of South Dakota producers who use cover crops has been increasing at an accelerating rate over the past ten years.
Cover Crop Adoption: Farmers’ perceived benefits & barriers
Cover crops are generally defined as crops planted between cash crops to cover and protect the soil. Some demonstrated benefits of cover crops include: reduced soil erosion, increased soil organic matter, increased biological variety, increased nitrogen supply, and weed control. Depending on the farmers’ objectives, different species of cover crops can be planted. For example, if a farmer’s main objective is to increase nitrogen supply, then legume cover crops best suited to the farm area should be selected.
Using Annual Cover Crops and Forages in Lieu of Row Crops
Although there are many factors to take into consideration, annual forages and cover crops can be an excellent tool to mitigate challenging planting seasons.
Delayed Planting Challenges: Cover Crop Considerations
High waters and saturated soils across many counties in South Dakota have producers worried about getting their crops planted in a timely manner this spring. In many areas, typical cash crops will not be a possibility. Producers may need to develop alternative plans.
Delayed Planting Challenges: Alternative Forages
With the excessively wet planting conditions much of South Dakota is now experiencing, many producers are looking for “Plan B” to meet forage needs for their livestock, or as a commodity that can be marketed to livestock producers.
Cover Crop Considerations for 2020
Producers across South Dakota are harvesting small grains. These crops provide an excellent window for adding a cover crop into your rotation.
Cover Crops After Small Grains
In last few years, interest in using cover crops has been increasing tremendously among crop and livestock producers in South Dakota. Growing cover crops following small grain is gaining more attention due to feasibility in cover crops species selection and also the time of the year where cover crops receive longer growing and establishing time than following row crops.