The Michigan Cover Crop Selector Tool Has Been Updated

By Madelyn Celovsky and Monica Jean et.al

In the fall of 2025, updates were made to the Midwest Cover Crops Council Cover Crop Selector Tool for Michigan. A group of researchers, Extension, Natural Resource Conservation Service staff, farmers and industry representatives reviewed research and farmer experiences from the last five years to update the recommendations in the tool.

Recommended seeding dates and seeding rates reviewed: Recommended seeding dates have been adjusted to reflect the most recent 30-year climate normal from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Recommended seeding dates and seeding rates have also been updated to reflect new research and experiences. Seeding dates for winter cereal rye were extended later into the fall, and the summer seeding windows were expanded for several cover crops as well.

Matching cover crops to farmer goals: Ratings for each cover crop species were reviewed. Potential advantages including quick growth and attractiveness to beneficial insects were reviewed alongside potential disadvantages such as risk of carrying disease to the following cash crop. Each cover crop species was also reviewed for how well it typically fulfills the various goals of using a cover crop, such as how well a particular cover crop reduces erosion, helps manage weeds or provides good grazing for livestock, among other goals.

One goal of the review was to improve guidance for farmers interested in interseeding cover crops. Cover crops are now ranked for their suitability for early and late interseeding separately, instead of just interseeding in general.