Over the last 25 years, farmers in the Mid-South have adopted the Early Soybean Production System (ESPS).  This includes planting earlier maturing soybean varieties between April 20 and May 31, which results in higher yields and earlier harvest dates and minimizes rutting of fields.

Conditions are ideal for planting cover crops before winter annual weeds emerge. Because soybeans are harvested at ground level, crop residue doesn’t interfere with drill seeding or broadcasting of cover crops species. The emerging plants provide great cover that holds soil nutrients and soil particles in the field that may otherwise runoff. With the rush and demand at harvest time, it’s sometimes challenging to find the time and labor to effectively plant before fall rains arrive. Soils in our area have low internal drainage, so drainage is key as waterlogged soils aren’t ideal for plant growth. Properly placed drain furrows will increase the success of fall cover crop plantings.

Tillage is common in my area and cover crop planting is not a normal practice. As we learn how to incorporate cover crops into our current production system, the benefits will be revealed. Soil moisture at planting season should be conserved, as well as the weed suppression the plants will provide. Glyphosate resistant Palmer Amaranth is present in this area and one of our main targets in our herbicide program. Preventing the emergence of this hard-to-control weed is one of the main benefits of planting cover crops.

Recycling of nutrients with deep rooted plants like cereal rye should also make this system more attractive and reduce input costs. Increased soil biological activity and organic matter can and should help farmers measure the benefits and outweigh the increased cost of seed and labor. More research is needed to help inform farmers interested in cover crops decide when field conditions are best.