Can it be too dry for cover crops? I've only used cover crops for the past 3 years. (Rye). I'm eastern Nebraska. We are extremely dry with not much rain in the nearby forecast. Is it worth the cost of seed to try too seed some rye? Corn soybean rotation. Would rye germinate even if there's no moisture in the top inch or if we do get enough rain to get it to germinate will it just die a week later?

Can be too dry. Rye is pretty easy to germinate. But it’s going to use moisture as well.

It can be too dry. We tried to plant turnips as a cover crab and they sprouted and died. In another location we used wheat and￼ three weeks later it came on. Just depends.￼￼

Another thing to keep in mind is that if the rye does grow, it will use any moisture you do have, which can be detrimental to your cash crop next spring. Unless you get adequate moisture this winter.

Yes. It can be. Depending on your sub moisture levels and whether it is irrigation or not, I would be hesitant to spend the money if you cant get it up

It definitely can be too dry. What’s your goal with the rye? Do you have subsoil moisture?

Field Crops, Row Crops

Response from Keri Buttke in Field Crops, Row Crops, Forage Crops, + 5 | AGvisorPRO

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