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Cover crops applied in late August off to good start

A southern Minnesota farmer in his sixth year using cover crops is seeing good growth this fall.

Lake Wilson corn and soybean grower Bryan Biegler says he used a high-clearance sprayer to broadcast cereal rye the last half of August.

“A few days after I had it seeded we got about .8″ of rain on it, and I was just out looking at that this last weekend and that was starting to grow already.  So once we get some sunshine back and with that canopy opening up and the sun can get down into it, (the cover crop) should really start taking off.”

Biegler has gone from about 40 acres his first year to seeding cover crops on nearly 1,600 acres in 2018.

He tells Brownfield there are multiple benefits.

“Water infiltration, I’ve been able to take a lot more moisture.  I’ve seen a lot of help on my weeds.  Usually I can cut back on my chemicals a little bit (because) the weeds just don’t grow as easily.  The (cover crops) really help suppress the weeds out.”

Biegler says the cereal rye has also helped dry out soils in the spring, allowing him to get in the field quicker.