Spring seeded cereals are on a real decline in Ontario, but the use of cover crops after wheat harvest is definitely on an upward trend. Why does that matter? Well, summer or fall seeded covers can help anchor soil, hold and cycle nutrients, and out-compete weeds.
But, as Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson explains in this clip from the August 12th episode of RealAg Radio, cover crops are not a cure-all, and weed control ahead of covers can be an excellent way to stop tough-to-kill and herbicide resistant weeds from going to seed in a cover crop.
Weed control after wheat harvest can knock out volunteer wheat, perennial sow thistle, fleabane and others, but herbicide choice plays a key role in setting up the cover crop seeding for success. Johnson adds that some of the herbicide choices to take care of mean weeds may limit cover crop selection due to residual impacts. It all comes down to cover crop choice and the timeline from spray to seeding, he says.
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