Promoting Cover Crops on Prevented Plant Acres 2019

1. Promoting Cover Crops on Prevented Plant Acres 2019- A year to remember Together we can do more………. Mike Stanek NRCS State Agronomist

2. Cover Crops & Prevented Planting • Are Cover Crops required? • No, RMA/NRCS or FSA does not require cover crops. • Do RMA and FSA acres have to match? • FSA and crop insurance crops for prevent plant will not in all cases match as FSA looks strictly at intended use and crop insurance needs to consider cropping history. • Planting dates - Agents have been asking FSA to split a field if it is a large field planted over many days. FSA procedure indicates if it is one field we can use the average of the dates it was planted. We understand that if part of the field is planted after the final planting date that is information agents will need to gather. • RMA: There is no rule that the FSA and RMA data match. • Can I plant a small grain for grain harvest? • Yes, it will be considered a 2020 crop and will be their 1st crop. 592,808 Outagamie County highest with 44,927 acres PP

3. Landowner Objectives • First question: What does the landowner want. • Does the landowner simply want to cover the soil? • Build organic matter, control erosion, prevent weeds? • Nitrogen credits. • Grazing or forage option after September 1, 2019?

4. June 17th 2019 NASS Crop Progress Wisconsin had 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending June 16, 2019, Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 33 percent surplus. As of June 16, spring tillage was 93 percent complete statewide, 15 days behind last year. Corn planting was 87 percent complete, 15 days behind last year and 18 days behind the average. Corn emerged was reported at 66 percent, 16 days behind both last year and the average. Corn condition was 54 percent good to excellent, up 1 percentage point from last week. Seventy seven percent of soybeans were planted, 14 days behind last year and 15 days behind the average. Forty seven percent of soybeans had emerged, 14 days behind both last year and the average. Winter wheat was 48 percent headed, 7 days behind last year, and 9 days behind the average. Winter wheat condition was 45 percent good to excellent, unchanged from last week. Oats emerged was 80 percent complete, 15 days behind last year and 18 days behind the average.

5. August 17th 2019 NASS Crop Progress Wisconsin had 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending August 17, 2019, Topsoil moisture supplies were rate 81 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus. Way better than June! Corn: silking15 days behind last year. Soybeans 87% blooming, 17 days behind last year. Winter wheat: most harvested, 10 days behind last year. Oats: 12 days behind the average. Overall the corn and beans that got planted are looking great! Late LateLate! Predictions: Forecast looks like average temps and average precip amounts. Oct 15th normal 1st frost?

6. August 17th 2019 NASS Crop Progress Above Normal Precipitation so far: Milwaukee: +4.87 in Eau Claire +7.95 in LaCrosse + 8.59 in Madison + 8.92 in And the winner is: Green Bay +10.28in Many areas talking about the recent cooler temps and crop development.

7. ACTION: For the 2019 crop year only: Cutting for silage, haylage, and baleage will be treated the same as haying or grazing. In addition, all references to the November 1 date, as it relates to haying and grazing, in any procedure will be replaced with September 1.

8. How bad is it? Marestail, giant ragweed, foxtails, huge weed seed bank. Some farmers have some serious field prep work this fall.

10. Winter Rye and Manure • Maximize soil health opportunities: • Minimize disturbance • Keep it covered • Living root year-round • Diversity Video Series: Cover Crops After Corn Silage Harvest https://bit.ly/2KzRUvl

11. WI Agronomy Tech Note 7 Cover crops Benefits by species Winter (cereal) Rye: One of the highest ratings-performs it’s best during fall, colder night temps. Plan to terminate next spring. Sudangrass or hybrids: High ratings…may not be enough time or heat for growth now. Oats: High ratings, plenty of time yet for growth, likes the cool temps, will enjoy a manure application, will fall kill and suppress weeds. Excellent fibrous root system for soil tilth. Lower C:N ratio so it will decompose quicker. Planted this late, so no worry about viable seed development.

12. What about the Manure? • Following corn silage: September to early October. (might be later this fall) • Plant the rye first- 60-90lbs acre seeding rate, drilled, aerial or broadcast, slightly different rates. • Spread manure-calculate planned rates (7,500-10,000 gal/acre) • Get started on the bean and corn grain acres. • Book your tropical winter vacation and brag about how you’re building healthy soil, and less nutrient lost to the environment.

13. Manure Do’s and Don’t’s • Don’t: Spread manure this fall on idle lands and not plant a cover crop! • SnapPlus throws red flags about the excess Nitrogen for non-harvested/growing crops. • Do: Plant a winter annual, rye, wheat, triticale. • Early Sept through mid October will be your best chance of a good seeding catch. • Do: Soil test those fallow/PP fields if you haven’t done so given the opportunity. • Even if a cover crop was planted, chopped or not, soil testing will help fine tune things for next year. • Do: Plan now for the 2020 crop, lime? Weed control? Erosion repairs? Install some contour buffer strips this fall? • Do: Make a plan to terminate cover crops in the spring, timing? Chemical type? • Do: Plan for spring manure applications/rates prior to planting.

14. September on PP acres? • It’s not too late! • Goal is forage to chop: • Plant forage oats, peas. Will do well until light frosts occur Oct. 15thish. • Will winter kill and still have some roots left to hold the soil in place. • Grain Farmers: Goals: weed suppression, soil cover, increase tilth, soil OM. • Plant winter rye, wheat or triticale. • Wildlife Farmers: Deer love young oats, rye or triticale.

15. Cover Crop Termination Zones

16. Winter Grazing Mix