612.2 Acres of Cover Crops Project 2025

Landowners located in Ashley Township were interested in reducing tillage on their fields. They wanted to work to keep the soils in place over the winter, and wanted to add more organic matter to their soils. With funding from the Soil Health Practices Grant through the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), the SCD was able to help these landowners implement cover crops onto their fields.

Seeded at 75 lbs of Pure Live Seed (PLS) per acre, 5 lbs of Winter Cereal Rye and 50 lbs of Oats were planted on October 12th, 2025. Oats were planted because of their quick fall growth characteristics that provide cover to the soil soon after the cash crop is removed, but they don’t survive the winter. Rye is an overwintering species that helps hold the soil in place and provides cover over the winter. Rye begins to grow again in the spring and helps reduce erosion from snow melt. It helps soak up the water in saturated fields. Cover crops were planted on a total of 617.2 acres.

Components:

• 617.2 acres of cover crops

• Winter Cereal Rye and Oats

Benefits:

• Helps hold soils in place

• Provides cover to the soil over the winter

• Reduces erosion

Pollution Reduction Estimates:

• Phosphorus: 67 tons/year

• Nitrogen: 272 tons/year

• Total Suspended Solids (TSS): 17 tons/year