Albert Lea Seed House 2018 Farm Seed Guide | Page 45

Seeding Rate (lbs/acre)
Species Name
Total N
Drilled Broadcast 1 /Aerial In Mix Approx. Seeds/lb Seeding Date Range Seeding Depth Winter Kill 2 (lb/A/yr) 3
Hairy Vetch 25-35 30-40 15-20 16,000 Aug-Oct ½ - 1'' NO 2 70-200
Common Vetch 50-60 60-75 20-40 7000 Aug-Sept ½ - 1'' YES 50-120
Winter Peas 50-100 Not Recommended 25-50 2000 Aug-Sept 1 - 2'' YES 70-150
Field Peas 100-200 Not Recommended 50-100 2000 Mar-May, Aug-Sept 2 - 3'' YES 70-150
Lentils 40-50 50-75 10-20 15000 Mar-May, Aug.-Sept. 1 - 1½" YES 20-30
Chickling Vetch 60-70 Not Recommended 20-30 2600 Mar.-May 1 - 1½" YES 80-100
Balansa Clover 5-8 6-9 2-3 500,000 Mar.-May, July-Sept ¼'' YES 2 50-100
Lupin 50-90 Not Recommended 20-40 4000 Mar.-May ¼ - ¾'' YES 100-200
Crimson Clover 12-25 25-30 2-5 150,000 June-Sept ¼ - ½'' YES 55-130
Cowpeas 50-100 Not Recommended 20-30 3000 June-Aug ½ - 1'' YES 100-150
Sunn Hemp 15-20 Not Recommended 4-8 11,000 June-Aug ½ - 1'' YES 100-140
Berseem 12-15 15-20 2-5 200,000 May 15-Aug 30 1/4 - ½'' YES 55-100
Yellow Blossom 8-12 15-20 2-5 259,000 Feb-May; Aug 1-Aug. 30 1/4 - ½’’ NO 100-200
Mammoth Red 8-12 15-20 2-5 272,000 Feb-May; Aug 1-Aug. 30 1/4 - ½’’ NO 70-150
100-150 Not Recommended 25-50 1,200-1,600 Mar 1-April 30; Aug 1-Sept 15 1 - 3” YES 50-140
Faba Beans
Incorporating broadcast seed by dragging or lightly disking will increase successful germination.
Winter kill success will vary. Typically dependent on severity of winter and snow cover.
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Total N is dependent on several factors including soil temperature, how long crop is allowed to grow, etc.
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2
Warm Season Crops
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
Conventional________________ $1.20/lb

$60/50 lb bag
NEW!
Organic____________________
$3.30/lb

$165/50 lb bag
Iron & Clay Cowpeas
• Vigorous-growing summer annual legume that
thrives in hot, wet conditions
• Excellent drought stress tolerance
(better than soybeans) and good N-fixation
capacity (up to 150 lbs N/acre)
• Widely adapted to varied soil types including
nutrient poor, sandy or droughty soils. Ready to
plowdown 60-90 days after planting
• Plant after soil temperatures are >65°F in the
summer
Conventional____________ $44/50 lb bag
Sunn Hemp*
• Tall-growing, warm-season annual legume with
tremendous biomass potential and N-fixing capacity
• Quick growing, very heat and drought tolerant
Has the potential to put on over 5,000 lbs of
biomass in 60 days. Thrives on poor soils
• Plant after soil temperatures are >65°F in the
summer. Requires same inoculant as cowpeas
• Terminate crop at first flower (~60 days) to avoid
fibrous stalks
Conventional________________ $1.60/lb

$80/50 lb 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
Conventional________________ $2.40/lb

$120/50 lb bag
Frosty Berseem
Clover NEW!
• Bred for later maturity, cold tolerance, productivity, and
nutritional value
• Multi-cut variety; capable of delivering multiple
harvests per season
• Aggressive growth, establishes quickly
• Produces good biomass amounts quickly and fixes
up to 100 lbs N/acre at flowering
• Excellet palatability - cows selectively graze for it
• No recorded cases of bloat
• Slightly more cold tolerant than crimson clover but
usually winter kills
• 80/20 alfalfa/berseem clover mix could increase yield,
crude protein, and water soluble carbohydrate levels in
hay fields
Conventional________________ $2.60/lb

$130/50 lb bag
Organic____________________ $7.20/lb

$360/50 lb bag
Cover Crops 45