Cover Crop Broadleaves
Eco-Till Radishes
Eco-Till Radish is a Daikon type forage radish variety specifically developed for fall/winter cover crop applications. These radishes offer impressive benefits to the soil and the environment including the reduction of soil compaction, improved nutrient recycling, increased organic matter, enhancement of soil tilth and suppression of weeds, to name a few. The thin, lower portion of the taproot can grow to a depth of six feet or more while the thick upper portion of the taproot can grow to a length of 24 inches. This taproot creates vertical holes in the soil profile that breaks up soil compaction and improves soil tilth, while also improving water infiltration, aeration and fertilizer efficiency for succeeding crops.
Impact Forage Collards
With an ability to thrive in conditions below zero for several days without snow cover, it is one of the most winter hardy brassicas available. On the other extreme, once Impact’s large taproot penetrates deep into the soil profile, it can still be productive during the hot, dry summers. Impact can tolerate close grazing pressure due to the growing point being near the soil surface, which also allows for fast regrowth after grazing.
Purple Top Turnips
Turnips suppress weeds in the fall with their rapid growth and canopy closure. Turnips are unaffected by early frost, but will likely be killed with temperatures fall below 25°F for 72 consecutive hours.
Forage Turnips
Features a leafy, upright growth habit and tankard shaped bulb. Ideal leaf to bulb Ratio (60%-40%), good leaf retention and early maturity (60-90 days) make these an excellent choice for summer or fall forage production.
Rape
Rape is a cool season plant of the brassica family that produces large, flat leaves that grow 12-20 inches long, and 8-15 inches wide, with plant height reaching 2-4 feet. Like other brassicas, rape will have a quick fall growth with great biomass production, providing outstanding fall cover.
Buckwheat
Buckwheat is the speedy short-season cover crop that establishes, blooms, and reaches maturity in just 70-90 days. It is easy to kill and has a strong weed suppressing ability. Buckwheat’s dense fibrous roots cluster in the top 10 inches of soil, providing and extensive root surface area for the uptake of phosphorus and some minor nutrients that are otherwise unavailable to crops.