If Dust is Flying, Keep Cover Crops in the Bag

By Heidi Reed and Sjoerd Willem Duiker

If you are thinking about planting a cover crop, you may be worried about the dry conditions and forecast. You're not alone. Here are some things to consider as you decide how to move forward.

Cover Crop Species Matters

Some species are better suited to face fall conditions than others. However, you need to make the best decision to achieve your cover cropping priorities, taking into consideration the soil moisture conditions.

Clovers

We are now past the planting window for successful crimson, balansa, and berseem clover establishment in Pennsylvania. If you had been waiting for rain, it is time to switch species. For red clover specifically, you can wait and frost seed in late February, but only if you expect to leave the clover in until spring of 2027.