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| You're not alone trying to balance erosion control with a short post-harvest window is a challenge no matter where you're at. Sounds like you’re off to a good start with that no-till drill and the willingness to experiment.
Given your drill’s setup for soybeans, you might be a little limited on small-seeded species unless you make some modifications, but there are still a few workable options:
Cereal rye is about as bulletproof as it gets. It can be drilled late (even into November some years), handles cold soil, and gives you good ground cover through winter and into spring. Cheap, forgiving, and fits well ahead of beans.
Winter wheat is another option if you want something a bit more controlled in spring (less aggressive than rye), though seed can be pricier.
Oats can work if you’re able to get in earlier (say, by early September). They’ll winterkill but still provide some fall cover and root mass.
If your drill can handle a mix, a simple rye + radish combo is popular. Radishes help bust compaction and leave nice channels, but they do need a bit more growing season to do much good.
Since you're still learning what works, I’d suggest starting with rye on a field or two this fall low risk and easy to manage in spring. If your drill can only handle beans, maybe try to rig a small-seed box or look at broadcasting ahead of rain. Even aerial seeding into standing corn/beans in late August has gained traction up here, though it’s hit or miss without moisture.
Biggest thing is just getting something growing before freeze-up. Keep good notes on what you try year-to-year results vary, but after a few seasons you'll get a feel for what sticks.
Happy to share more details if you’ve got specific goals. | |
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cover crop in corn
