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Corn/soybeans could work for cover crops this year

University of Missouri agronomists say corn, soybeans and grain sorghum are potential cover crop options on prevent planted acres.

Excessive rain and flooding forced many farmers to not plant crops this year – which led to the cover crop option and an earlier harvest date on those acres.

“Because there’s a lot of prevented planting acres this year a lot of farmers have on hand corn that they wish they had planted or soybeans that they have in the bag,” says Rob Kallenbach, interim associate dean of Extension.

He says they’re working on the best guidelines to assist producers,

“For soybeans, planting in narrow rows or even broadcasting beans to be able to provide just as even a plant spacing across the field helps, in terms of cover.”

Kallenbach says early pod stage makes for good stored forage or grazing.

And for corn cover crops, “Corn planters are typically set up on 30-inch rows and so we’re typically limited by that. But using higher than normal populations will help in terms of quick cover.” Kallenbach says more guidance from MU will be forthcoming for growers.

Kallenbach sent a letter to growers recently about this.