Can Your Winter Cover Handle A Fall Drought?

MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

The U.S. Drought Monitor puts most of Wisconsin in an abnormally dry or severe drought. That's likely to get worse as there's no rain in the forecast. Dan Marzu is the north-central region nutrient and pest management outreach specialist with the Division of Extension. He says winter crops will struggle coming out of the ground if that soil moisture isn't at around 50 percent. The good news is that Wisconsin winter crops are meant to be hardy. As we start to exit the planting window for winter wheat and winter barley, winter rye will be a good choice for Wisconsin producers to get a cover on the ground to prevent runoff and erosion. Marzu also recommends becoming a part of the Wisconsin Cover Crop Citizen Science Project with the Michael Fields Research Institute. Part of the incentive is a stipend.

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