As traditional commodity markets shift, many growers are looking beyond the standard corn and bean rotation to find new value in their land. Jeff Wienkes, regional sales manager with LaCrosse Seed, tells Mid-West Farm Report how cover crops are evolving from simple ‘soil savers’ into strategic financial tools for grazing and soil health.
The transition is largely driven by the limitations of the traditional corn and soybean rotation, Wienkes explains. The tight harvesting windows of these primary crops often leave little room for supplemental planting. However, by incorporating small grains like wheat or cereal rye, farmers are finding opportunities to improve their land.
“Any farm that’s doing wheat or some small grains has a little bit more window, an opportunity to put a cover crop out there,” he says. “So we get to use a little bit more agile cover crops than we would in the past.”
The trend of planting “kitchen sink” mixes, or broad blends containing seven to nine different species, is fading. In their place, growers are opting for targeted, three-goal strategies, Wienkes continues. This precision approach is also feeding into the state’s grazing industry. By using cover crops as a “double win,” as a soil builder and a quality forage source, farmers are effectively lowering their feed costs.
Government programs are also evolving to support this experimentation. Historically, strict planting dates clashed with Wisconsin’s weather, but Wienkes says recent updates to these programs have introduced flexibility in timing and species selection.
Despite the variety of options available, he reminds growers that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for every acre.
“There’s no silver bullet of cover crops,” Wienkes says. “It’s usually what we recommend is figure out three things that you want to do and let’s zone in on those three things.”
