Ohio Ag Net | Ohio's Country Journal Ohio Ag Net | Ohio's Country Journal 
By Brianna Smith
Kara Spicer is a certified crop adviser with B&B Ag-Vantages Inc. in Conover, Ohio, where she is the fourth generation in the family business. After earning a degree in agronomy with a minor in business from Wilmington College, Spicer returned to the business full-time in December of 2016. Today, she helps with in-office sales, customer service, daily operations, soil sampling, and cover crop planning for growers.
Q: What should farmers consider first when choosing a cover crop species?
A: “No. 1 is what your real goal is. That can be anything from erosion control, weed suppression, organic matter, government programs, etc. We get growers that call in and say, ‘I just signed up for this government program. I don’t really know what I need, but I know I’m in this program.’ We can make sure they are putting on the mix to meet those requirements. The first thing is figuring out what you are really looking to accomplish by adding cover crops into the mix.”
Q: How does a grower’s goal influence the cover crop recommendation?
A: “Some growers are looking at an erosion problem and want to focus on that. Sometimes the goal is breaking up compacted soil. Other times, we look at soil sample results and see that organic matter has a lower number, and the grower is looking for a way to raise it. We can create fully customized cover‑crop blends tailored to meet any grower’s goals.”
Q: What are some good options for cover crops?
A: “I like oats. I look at that as kind of the beginner cover crop because it’s something they can put out in the late summer to fall, and it’s going to die off before the next spring. After that, we steer farmers toward rye or barley, sometimes we still mix in some oats. Rye is what we suggest to put ahead of beans. Barley is what we recommend ahead of corn. Customers put radishes in, too, to kind of help break up compaction and pull up more nutrients toward the top of the soil. Depending on what a grower is looking for, we can create custom blends tailored to their goals, which we do a lot. For example, they may really need to have the rye out as their main cover crop, but would also like to throw some oats for early cover in and radish to help with compaction issues. We have seen growers use several different kinds of clovers, peas, vetch, mustard, rape seed, sunflowers, turnips, faba beans, triticale, other grasses, and more. Different crops deliver different agronomic benefits, and we use those differences to shape the ideal mix.”
Q: What is the biggest thing farmers should keep in mind when it comes to using cover crops?
A: “I think the biggest lesson we learned early on was you have to have a plan on how you’re going to kill off that cover crop, whether you’re going to spray it, roll it, or crimp it. We have seen a mix of rolling/crimping cover crop to kill it off, as well as spraying. Both have their own benefits. Rolling can help retain moisture and support weed suppression early on, so the desired crop can take off. Spraying can allow growers to get out and plant early and then have their first pass of spray with residual and herbicide put on.”
Q: How important is timing when planting cover crops?
A: “So much of cover crop success depends on what happens after you plant. It depends on the timing of the rain, less than when you actually put it out. We plant cover crops anywhere from late July or the beginning of August through frost seeding in January and February. We have seen plantings anywhere in those timeframes take off and look great. For growers enrolled in government programs, those requirements ultimately determine the planting window.”
