By Blake Jackson
Wisconsin farmers are increasingly using rye as a cover crop because it helps protect soil, improve water quality, and provide strong ground coverage. However, concerns about whether rye can reduce the yield of the following corn crop remain a barrier to wider adoption.
Abby Augarten, Agriculture Research Manager at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is involved in research examining these concerns.
The farmer-led research project is designed to compare corn grown after a rye cover crop with corn grown without a cover crop.
Researchers will examine factors such as cover crop biomass, nutrient uptake, soil conditions, corn yield, field history, and management practices. By repeating treatments within the same field, the study aims to distinguish potential effects from normal field-to-field and yield variability.
Farmers can participate in fields planned for grain or silage corn while maintaining control over management decisions such as fertilizer and herbicide use.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension team provides technical assistance with trial setup, implementation, and data collection. Participants can also compare their findings with results from other farmers and contribute to a broader conservation effort.
The project also offers optional research packages. Farmers can investigate nitrogen dynamics, pest pressure, alternative cover crop species, or different management strategies. These options can provide additional information about nutrient availability, weeds, slugs, cover crop performance, termination timing, nitrogen application, and tillage practices.
By combining farmer experience with field-based data, the project seeks to provide practical information about the benefits, risks, and economics of using rye before corn.
The findings could help Wisconsin farmers make more informed cover crop decisions while advancing producer-led conservation research.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-oticki
Categories: Wisconsin, Crops, Corn