CREIGHTON – An upcoming field demonstration will be held in northeast Nebraska answering several questions about cover crop.
According to a release from the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resource District (LENRD), the cover crop seeding demonstration will be held on Friday, September 20 near Creighton.
The Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA) project team, along with the Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy, have teamed up to demonstrate an additional seeding option for producers using a high-clearance applicator. For those in search of another alterative when planting cover crops and if the harvest season time-crunch limits your ability to full capitalize on the long-term benefits of using cover crops, this demonstration is for you.
The high-clearance applicator is equipped with a pneumatic seeding unit and in-the-row drop nozzles. This concept allows for the late-season application of seed into a standing crop; but will eliminate some of the seed loss or drift that can sometimes occur when applying cover crop seed using an aerial method.
The project team has secured three demonstration plots located within the Bazile Groundwater Management Area. The seeding demonstration is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 20th at the Jim Fuchtman farm, east of Creighton. Make plans to meet at Midwest Seed of Creighton (53105 HWY 59) and stop by to watch the machine in action. Lunch will also be served at Midwest Seed following the demonstration.
The other cooperating producers with demonstration plots are Albert Friedrich of Plainview and Garrett, Mark, and Scott Carpenter of Creighton.
Cover crops prevent erosion, improve soil’s physical and biological properties, sequester excess nutrients, suppress weeds, improve the water infiltration and water-holding capacity and break pest cycles along with various other benefits.
Contact your local NRD office for more information or call the LENRD office at 402-371-7313 for additional details.