• UVM Extension
• Lake Champlain Basin Program
• Great Lakes Fishery Commission  
• USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
• VT Agency of Natural Resources
• VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
• USDA-Risk Management Agency   
• USDA-National Institute of Food & Agriculture 
• NE-SARE Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education 

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 NEW Cover Crop Survey for ALL Vermont Farmers  

We are conducting a survey of Vermont farmers to learn more about how and why cover crops are or are not utilized in our state.  This survey is targeted at all farmers, regardless of whether or not you have used cover crops in your operation at any time.
CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY AND WIN A DOOR PRIZE!! 

 

Is Your Herbicide Program Compatible with Your Cover Crops? 

by Kirsten Workman

 

When it comes to pesticide applications, "the label is the law."  However, when

it comes to cover crops, often times they are not mentioned on the pesticide label.  That leaves growers and custom applicators in a bit of a gray area.  As the use of cover crops increases in Vermont, a good thing to be sure, we must take a closer look at our herbicide programs in corn and soybean fields.  This is especially true when considering 'interseeding' and earlier planted cover crops.

   

If you look at your  herbicide label, you can easily find the rotation restrictions.Many of these herbicides will limit rotation to alfalfa, clover, and even small grains...all commonly used cover crop species.Often times cover crops are not listed on the label, and as such are put in the 'other' category, which is usually the most restrictive.These restrictions can be included on the label for either concern for herbicide residue accumulation in the rotated crop or for carryover injury in the rotated crop.Both of these should be taken into account when thinking about your herbicide program and your cover crop plans.

Dr. William Curran, Professor of Weed Sciences at Penn State, has put together a very useful table outlining commonly used corn and soybean herbicides and their impact on Fall cover crops in the northeast. Dr. Curran writes,"If the crop is not going to be harvested and consumed by livestock or humans, then the primary concern is carryover injury and achieving an acceptable stand that provides the benefits of a fall or winter cover.  Cover crops that are not harvested can be planted after any herbicide program, but the grower assumes the risk of crop failure."

 

There are two factors to take into account when managing your herbicide program and your cover crop goals:

1. How long does the herbicide persist in the soil? (half-life is a good indicator of this)
2. How sensitive or susceptible is your cover crop species to potential herbicide residues?

In general, products with a rotation restriction of 4 months

Winter Wheat damaged by herbicide carryover (Source: W. Curran, PSU)

or less for the species of interest (or with a half-life of 30 days or less) should not pose a big concern. 

These would include things like 2,4-D, Glyphosate, Dual or Prowl.Products like Atrazine, Balance, Callisto, Lumax may pose problems.  If you are going to harvest the cover crop for forage or grain, you should follow thelabel.

The most important thing will be to read your labels, know

your recrop restrictions, and have

good communication with the person who is doing your spraying.  A glyphosate program with lower rates of residual herbicides should be okay in most cases.

 

As good cover cropping practices are adopted (with good fall establishment), you should see enhanced weed suppression in those annually cropped fields.  Perhaps then, your herbicide program can change and become more compatible with continued cover crop usage.  If you add no-till to your cropping systems, your herbicide program and weed profiles will change as well.

 

RESOURCES:

•  http://extension.psu.edu/plants/crops/soil-management/cover-crops/herbicide-persistence
•  http://extension.psu.edu/plants/crops/news/2012/08/herbicides-and-fall-cover-crop-establishment

by Rico Balzano

There are many advantages of a no-till system over a conventional till system; however, one benefit that conventional tillage offers is short term nitrogen release. Tillage mixes oxygen into the soil, stimulating soil microbes to feed on organic matter and mineralize nitrogen. This is most apparent when plowing down a green sod, giving soil microbes plenty of fuel to process into available nitrogen (N). So, how much N does tillage release? That depends on a lot of factors, but the general recommendation to compensate for the tillage release in no-till corn is an extra 30 lbs./ac. actual N. If possible, putting the extra N through the planter provides the most benefit.

This is where cover crops can fit into the system. Grasses such as rye, ryegrass, and radish capture excess N and release it for the following crop. Legumes such as clover, peas, and vetch fix atmospheric N and release it for the following crop. Combinations, or "cover crop mixes" can provide the advantages of both. If killed at the right maturity stage, cover crops can add up to 100 lbs. of N to the system, and a pure legume stand can add up to 150 lbs. This is why grandpa called it "green manure!"

But how much N release can be expected from a cover crop to be available for the following corn crop? Generally, when cover crops (or green sod) are plowed down, about 50% of the N is released and is plant available the following year. The rest becomes organic matter and is released slowly over time. In a no-till situation, where cover crops (or green sod) are killed and left on the surface, about 25% of the N is released and is plant available the following year, with the rest released slowly as the residue breaks down. But it's still not that simple. High carbon to nitrogen ratios (C:N ratio) could immobilize N if the cover crop was over mature when killed, or other crop residues add excess carbon to the system. Legumes in the cover crop mix can help keep the C:N ratio low and the decomposition and release process going at a steady rate. Many long-term no-tillers who have cover crops in their rotations observe that over time their N release steadily rises as the C:N ratio, organic matter, and soil biology all come into balance.

Points to remember:

• Add 30 lbs./ac. of actual N to conventional till recommendation for no-till corn. (Get it through the planter if possible.)
• Watch out for N immobilization, especially with higher amounts of residue.
• Terminate cover crops at the right maturity for maximum N contribution and lower C:N ratio.
• Consider using a legume cover crop, or mix with a legume, to help get N into the system for the soil biology, and your corn crop.

Otter Creek Conservation District  

Annual Tree/Seedling Sale

The Otter Creek Natural Resources Conservation District is sponsoring its Annual Tree/Seedling Program for area residents and cooperators. This program was developed for the convenience of area residents and to support on-going conservation projects. Possible uses for the seedlings are home orchards, windbreaks, Christmas trees, ornamental, and wildlife habitat.  

A partial list of trees and seedlings the district is offering are White Pine, Balsam Fir, White Cedar, White Spruce, Black Walnut, American Chestnut, Lilac, disease resistant Apples, Plums and a very hardy Peach. Sugar maple, red maple and white oak are also available. This year look for a greater selection of blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and asparagus that thrives in heavy clay and a limited selection of 6-8' maples.

Sale proceeds help support scholarships for Green Mountain Conservation Camp, Conservation Field Day for all Addison County sixth graders, resource information workshops, and planting trees alongside streams.

To receive your order form detailing selection and cost call (802) 388-6746 x 126 or e-mail pam.stefanek@vt.nacdnet.net.   

Orders will be welcome throughout April but those received by April 15th, 2014 will get priority. The District Tree Sale pickup will be held in Middlebury on the morning of May 3, 2014.

The Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition remains busy as they continue to be a voice for Vermont farmers in this critical time in the history of our state when it comes to water quality and ag issues.  Board members spoke to the Lake Champlain Basin Program's Citizen Advisory Program about House Bill 586 and how it impacts farmers.  They also shared the importance of farmers being a part of the solution and the many techniques farmers are already employing to ensure they are good stewards of the environment. 

In an effort to accomplish our mission of also educating the public about the work farmers do to protect water quality, we have embarked on our goal of  sharing our stories through visual media.  Several members were recently interviewed for an upcoming documentary on water and the impact all Vermonters have on this important resource.  In addition, we have opened a discussion withe leadership of the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center about a potential partnership to share the story of farmers working to improve water quality by having some short videos that use science to engage the public in important conversations.  What a better way to reach the public than through one of our state's premier public resources?

We wrapped up the FAP program and mailed out the last of the cover crop cost-share payments to farmers in the basin, bringing the total amount of acres in this program to over 6,000 acres, representing almost $140,000 dollars in cost-share paid to farmers implementing conservation practices voluntarily.

Membership has continued to increase as we have welcomed eight new members over the last two months.  If you are interested in becoming a member, please give us a call or just apply!  You can find our membership application HERE.  It is a valuable way to stay informed, be proactive, and add

your voice to the discussion.

Our next meeting will be held on April 17th from 10:00 to 12:00 at the UVM Extension office in Middlebury. 

www.champlainvalleyfarmercoaltion.com