Albert Lea Seed House 2017 Cover Crop Seed Guide | Page 8

08
NITROGEN-FIXING COVER CROPS
Crimson Clover
Hairy Vetch*
Winter annual, viney cover crop legume with purple
blossoms and compound leaves. Produces exceptional
biomass and can be a heavy N-fixer (up to 100+ lbs N/
acre at flowering). Improves soil structure, scavenges P,
and competes very well against early season weeds.
Can winterkill if planted past recommended dates.
• Best fall-planted legume for nitrogen fixation in
the upper-Midwest
• We recommend companion seeding with oats, winter rye or
another nurse crop to increase chances of winter survival
• Produces hard seed; control plant before seed set.
Do not seed vetch into small grains if harvesting
for marketable grain. Vetch seed is hard to
separate from small grains
• Hairy vetch is very viney. It can clog harvest
machinery, mowers and rotary tillage implements
Planting Date: August 1st - October 15th
Seeding: 25-35 lbs/acre
Conventional ____________ $1.60/lb
$80.00/50lb bag
Organic ________________ $2.00/lb
$100.00/50lb bag
Purple Bounty
Hairy Vetch NEW!
• New winterhardy, early maturing hairy vetch
variety form USDA
• Selected for high nitrogen fixation potential and
increased biomass
• Flowers two weeks earlier than common hairy vetch
making it ideal for rotations in the upper-Midwest
Planting Date: August 1st - October 15th
Seeding: 25-35 lbs/acre
Conventional ______________ASK/lb
$110.00/50lb bag
Organic __________________ASK/lb
$110.00/50lb bag
Austrian Winter Peas*
• Viney, fall-seeded, winter annual legume
excellent for use as cover crop or forage crop
• Can produce up to 1-2 tons dry matter/acre and
fix 90-150 lbs N/acre
• High quality forage with a protein content of 14% to 20%
• Not reliably winter hardy in MN/WI/SD, plant
early in the season with a nurse crop to ensure
best chance of survival
Planting Date: August 1st - September 15th
Seeding: 50-100 lbs/acre
Conventional _______ $34.00/50lb bag
Organic ___________ $42.00/50lb bag
Common Vetch*
• Viney legume that is an annual in the upper Midwest
with pea-like flowers and compound leaves
• Good growth for cover cropping if seeded early in
the fall, excellent candidate for aerial application
• Less winterhardy than hairy vetch; will winterkill
in the upper-Midwest
• Good forage quality and widely adapted
Planting Date: August 1st - September 15th
Seeding: 50-60 lbs/acre
Conventional ____________ $1.00/lb
$50.00/50lb bag
Organic ________________ $1.50/lb
$75.00/50lb bag
Crimson Clover*
• Rapidly growing warm-season cover crop clover
• Seed as early as possible in the fall for maximum
growth and biomass accumulation
• Commonly used legume component in cover crop blends
• Later seeding into September will result in less
growth before freeze up
Planting Date: June 1st - September 15th
Seeding: 12-25 lbs/acre
Conventional _______________ $1.24/lb
$62.00/50lb bag
Berseem Clover*
• Fast-growing summer annual legume
• Will produce good amount of biomass quickly and fix
up to 100 lbs N/acre at flowering
• Slightly more cold tolerant than crimson clover
Planting Date: May 15-August 30
Seeding: 12-15 lbs/acre
Conventional _______________ $2.12/lb
$106.00/50lb bag
Balansa Clover
• Quick establishing, cool season, annual legume
with hollow stems
• Good biomass accumulation and N-fixation potential
• More cold tolerant than crimson clover; can
potentially overwinter
• Potential early fall cover crop option after silage
corn, small grains or early soybeans
Planting Date: July 1st-September 1st
Seeding: 5-8 lbs/acre
Conventional _______________ $2.50/lb
$125.00/50lb bag
Spring Peas*
• Good legume option for early spring or fall cover
cropping
• Excellent forage quality for grazing or cut forage
in the fall or spring; best companion seeded with
a small grain for optimum tonnage
• Peas need to be drilled or planted, not broadcasted
Planting Date: August 1st - September 15th
Seeding: 100-200 lbs/acre
Conventional _______ $19.00/50lb bag
Organic ___________ $26.00/50lb bag
Lentils*
• Shor