Cover Crop Establishment - Using New Technologies
Extension Education
Jennifer Bearden
Agriculture Agent
UF/IFAS
Crestview
Abstract
With the increasing adoption of cover crops, producers in Northwest Florida have questions regarding the most effective and efficient methods for establishing cover crops following cash crops. One question frequently raised is whether cover crops can be successfully established through aerial or broadcast seeding prior to harvest. According to the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Agronomy Technical Note No. 21, aerial seeding may allow cover crops to germinate and begin growth before harvest of the cash crop, allowing producers to take advantage of the narrow planting window that often occurs in the fall.
A demonstration was conducted on a farm in Okaloosa County, Florida following soybean harvest to compare several cover crop establishment methods. Oats and triticale were selected due to local producer interest. Strip plots (approximately 0.1 acre each) were established using four planting methods: broadcast pre-harvest, broadcast post-harvest, broadcast followed by cultipacking post-harvest, and drilled post-harvest. Pre-harvest broadcast treatments were seeded on November 18, 2024, at 70 lb/ac. Post-harvest treatments were planted December 13, 2024 following soybean harvest.
Extension activities included a Drone Field Day on December 16, 2024 to observe early cover from the pre-harvest broadcast treatment and a Cover Crop Field Day on April 15, 2025 where participants compared all treatments. A written report summarizing the findings was distributed to producers.
Biomass samples collected April 16, 2025 showed that drilled oats produced the highest biomass (8,821 lb/ac), followed by pre-harvest broadcast oats (7,187 lb/ac). For triticale, broadcast with cultipacking produced the highest biomass (3,202 lb/ac), followed by pre-harvest broadcast (3,136 lb/ac). Soil moisture comparisons showed 9.7% moisture under terminated cover crops versus 6.3% under living cover.
Eleven participants at the field day reported knowledge gained, and four indicated intentions to plant cover crops in the following season. Results suggest that broadcasting cover crops prior to harvest can establish stands and accumulate biomass comparable to drilled crops while providing earlier ground cover to reduce erosion. Further research is planned to evaluate drone or equipment-mounted pre-harvest seeding in additional crops.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
Click to view Poster
Authors: Jennifer Bearden, Nicholas Simmons, Hardeep Singh
-
Bearden, J. Agriculture Agent, , Florida, 32539
-
Simmons, N. Agriculture Agent, University of Florida, Florida, 32533
-
Singh, H. Cropping Systems Specialist, University of Florida, Florida, 32565