Covers After Alfalfa

Source: Fox Demo Farms

Fields coming out of alfalfa tend to have issues with compaction due to heavy truck traffic, so Augustian Farms LLC planted a mix of tillage radish, purple-top turnips, and winter rye. The radish and turnips help reduce compaction, while also pulling up nitrogen that’s released from the alfalfa die off. For Aaron, building soil health and keeping nutrients on the ground is extremely important to his operation, so he’s included winter rye, which will over winter and ensure there is a living root until he can plant green next spring.

Length: 01:56

Year Produced: 2021

State: Wisconsin

Cropping Systems: Dairy, Forage

Tags: Compaction, radishes, turnips, winter rye