Tag Archives: management of annual ryegrass

Ryegrass Cover Crop Works Well for ASA Conservation Award Winner

Soil health is the main focus at Wenning Farms, in the rolling hills and tight clay soils of southeastern Indiana. The family operates more than 600 acres in a corn/soybean rotation. Roger Wenning, the son of the founder of the … Continue reading

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Annual Ryegrass and Nitrogen Uptake

A recent article by Farm Journal writer Darrel Smith, talked about a nitrogen study with different cover crops, and the importance in managing the burn down so as to maximize nitrogen uptake by corn and beans. Farm Progress worked with … Continue reading

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Annual Ryegrass Control – Tips for Qualtity Results with Herbicide

Now’s the Time to Begin to Take Out Your Annual Ryegrass Cover Crop 1. Timing is important. Late March – Mid April, depending on Midwest location a. Burndown when the plant is 6 – 12”, before 1st node develops b. … Continue reading

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Annual Ryegrass Control

Timely Tips for Termination 1. Timing is important. Late March – Mid April, depending on Midwest location a. Burndown when the plant is 6 – 12”, before 1st node develops b. Allow 5 – 7 days after annual ryegrass has … Continue reading

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Careful Management of Annual Ryegrass Burndown

The use of seed blends for annual ryegrass cover cropping may not be the best idea. Here’s why: Each variety of annual ryegrass has certain characteristics for growth, including how quickly it comes out of dormancy in the spring. And … Continue reading

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Dan Towery Recalls the Early Days of Cover Crops

Back in the mid to late 1980s, Dan Towery got enthusiastic about cover crops. “Mainly, we were interested in reducing erosion but we were also looking at nitrogen fixation properties that could benefit corn planted into the residue,” he said. … Continue reading

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Annual Ryegrass IS NOT THE SAME as Cereal Rye

The name “rye” in both cover crops is confusing.  Annual ryegrass is a grass; Cereal rye is a grain, more like wheat. Both are used for cover crops and forage. Here are some basic differences, with the most distinctive in … Continue reading

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Some Rain, Too Late. Cover Crops May Help Protect Soil, Save Nutrients

The half-inch or so of rain in the Midwest this week has sprouted spirits, although with more warm weather forecast, the prospect for a reversal of fortunes on most corn crops is slim. The worst drought in more than 50 … Continue reading

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Cover Crops This Fall Will Save Some Money on Nitrogen Next Year

All that corn in the field, dying. And with it, the prospect of additional losses of nitrogen fertilizer. If fields are mowed, or plowed under, in the wake of no-show corn, what happens to the nitrogen this fall, when the … Continue reading

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Michigan State Univ. Touts Annual Ryegrass – With Stringent Managment

MSU Extension reported yesterday as popularity grows for annual ryegrass cover crops, it’s important to be aware of the optimal conditions under which to control it, burning it down in the spring before planting corn or soybeans. MSU conducted field … Continue reading

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