Cover crop selection tool available for Michigan vegetable farmers
Print
EmailTry our updated online tool to find the best cover crop for your vegetable rotations.
The use of cover crops in vegetable production is becoming a common practice in Michigan and beyond. As cover crop use has increased, many farmers are looking for species that can bring a specific benefit or a combination of benefits within their vegetable rotations. Through funding from Michigan State University Extension and the Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC), an online tool has been updated to help vegetable farmers select cover crops to improve productivity. The decision tool allows the user to input location, cash crop, drainage and cover crop goal information. Goals include:
- Lasting Residue
- Nitrogen Scavenger
- Nitrogen Source
- Quick Growth
- Soil Builder
- Plow Pan Perforator
- Surface layer Tilth Enhancer
- Wind Protection
- Weed Fighter
- Quick Breakdown
- Attracts Beneficial Insects
- Nurse/Companion Crop
- Erosion Fighter
The tool screens cover crop choices based on field drainage and up to three user-specified goals. County-based seeding dates for reliable establishment are displayed. An information sheet can be generated for a cover crop selection that provides additional information on planting, termination, advantages, disadvantages and references.
Here are the steps to easily find the tool:
- Go to https://www.midwestcovercrops.org/selector-tools/
- Click on Try the Decision Tool
- Select Michigan Vegetable Crops in the state dropdown box
- Select County, Goals
- Select Crop and Planting Dates
- Select your cash crop planting date and harvest dates
- Put in drainage option
- Click Find Cover Crops
The vegetable cover crop decision tool and other cover crop resources are available on the MCCC website https://www.midwestcovercrops.org/ under Cover Crop Resources, Cover Crop Selector.