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SOIL HEALTH IN PRACTICE - REAL SOLUTIONS FROM REAL FARMERS

Prevent Plant

It’s been a tough year for many producers throughout the
Plains and Midwest with wild weather and excessive rain- Photo by Colten Catterton
fall causing record acres going into prevent plant programs.
While no one wants to take prevent plant, this cloud can have
a silver lining. Many farmers have been stuck in a corn/soy-
bean rotation (or lack of rotation) for many years so this can
be an opportunity to add diversity to the system. A diverse
multi-species cover crop mix planted into prevent plant acres
can greatly stimulate soil life and soil biology, while suppress-
ing weeds, interrupting disease cycles, and even produce and Currently two of his favorite legumes to include in mix-
cycle nutrients for next year’s crops. For growers in livestock tures are cold tolerant FIXatioN Balansa Clover and Frosty
regions, you can also provide valuable livestock forage (be Berseem Clover from Grassland Oregon. FIXatioN Balansa
sure and follow the Prevent Plant rules for grazing). Clover can contribute up to 200 pounds of nitrogen per acre
and yield 5 tons of dry matter in a single growing season.
It’s deep tap root system also helps with compaction, soil
drainage and water infiltration. Frosty Berseem Clover has
specifically been bred for fast establishment, late maturity
and the ability to survive in temperatures as low as 20°F.

Lebanon, IN farmer Dave Chance was not exempt from
prevent plant this spring, and had to drill covers on 600
acres of his 2,200 acre corn and soybean farm. Chance is
passionate about the health of his soil and saw this setback
as a golden opportunity to add the diversity from the cover
crops that will positively impact the long-term production
of his farm. While never an easy thing to do, Chance en- Selecting for variety traits has been the difference between cover crop success and
courages others, “Instead of looking at the negative of not failure on many occasions for Chance Farms. Two of his favorite legumes to in-
growing corn, focus instead on how the covers can increase clude in mixtures are FIXatioN Balansa Clover and Frosty Berseem Clover from
Grassland Oregon. Both have been bred to fix notable amounts of nitrogen and to
soil health and how the legumes will potentially reduce ni- produce significant biomass while surviving in sub degree temperatures.
trogen input costs next spring. This simple shift in thinking Chance’s final piece of advice for others is to “look at your
will be the difference between success and failure for first cover crop venture as a marathon—not a sprint. Simply
time cover croppers.” putting a cover crop in the ground to collect a government
Chance is adamant about using diverse cover mixes when- check and then turn around and go back to the way you’ve
ever he can and the ingredients in his cover crop recipes always farmed won’t yield the full benefits of cover crops. It
include legumes, grasses, brassicas, and broadleaf species to takes years of consistent management to rebuild soil health
give his soil biology a full spread buffet of energy rich carbon and capture the full potential of cover crops, but the long-
root exudates. His five favorite mixtures range from 3 to 16 term rewards from cover crops will be worth it.”
species each and more than 20 species are used throughout
the farm. Chance goes on to note, “Just like in corn and We hope that none of you will have any prevent plant acres
beans, variety selection can be the difference between suc- in 2020 or beyond, but sooner or later, most of us will face
cess and failure so do your due diligence and do your own this challenge, and when you do, remember the lessons of
testing and research to learn about what is available and 2019 and be prepared to take advantage of the opportunity
take advantage of specific traits bred into the cover crop va- to add diversity of both plants and biology to your system.
rieties that will lead to more consistent performance.” Your soils and your future crops will thank you for it!

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