Michigan State University Extension Releases Cover Crop Seed Directory for Farmers

Michigan State University Extension has recently unveiled a comprehensive cover crop seed directory aimed at assisting farmers in sourcing local resources for their agricultural needs.

Cropping system agronomist Monica Jean highlighted the significance of providing farmers with diverse options to obtain seeds as the demand for cover crops continues to rise. Jean emphasized that factors such as weather conditions greatly impact both the quantity and quality of available seed.

As part of new climate resiliency research, Monica Jean is currently involved in evaluating nutrient cycling within cover cropping systems.

She mentioned plans to conduct experiments involving cover crops seeded at leaf drop in soybeans across various locations, including large fields in two separate areas. Additionally, the Michigan Department of Ag and Rural Development is funding a project focused on multiple locations within the Western Lake Erie Basin.

According to recent statistics, nearly 10 percent of harvestable cropland in Michigan was dedicated to cover crops in the latest agricultural census. However, Jean suggested that the actual percentage could be higher when considering factors such as crop rotation, weather patterns, and land availability.