HARLAN, Ind. — An interseeding technology that allows for earlier planting of cover crops will be on display at an upcoming event in Allen County. The “Seeing Green: Fields and Profits Soil Health Field Day” is August 10 at Roemke Farms.

 

The Pennsylvania State University Interseeder was developed by researchers at the university. It allows farmers to accomplish three goals in one pass over a field –plant a cover crop, sidedress standing corn or soybeans and spray an herbicide – said Greg Roth, professor of agronomy at Penn State.

“The goal (of developing the Interseeder) was to try to reduce the cost of making a trip across a field,” he explained. “It works in no-till fields in June with good soilto-seed contact. You can plant your cover crops while doing something else like sidedressing.”

While it isn’t new for farmers in northeastern Indiana to interseed their cover crops, they use the practice much later in the growing season, said Greg Lake, director of the Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). This is the second year earlier season interseeding has been used on some fields in the area.

“Last year, we were very pleased with the outcome,” he noted. “It’s a new option for farmers. We’re tickled to death with the concept, but we’re not encouraging anyone to go great guns until we have more experience in our area.”

Roth said Penn State researchers are interested in learning how their Interseeder will be used with various farm management systems. “We’re still trying to figure out what works best in certain areas,” he said. “We want to show it to the local guys, let them see how it works and have them use it with their corn management.

“The overall concept is trying to have something green in fields over the winter. We’ve found the Interseeder works best in fields with moderate corn populations and yield levels. We’ve also found adjustments in the timing of interseeding might be needed, depending on the crop – you’d want to go in a little earlier with higher- yield crops.”

The field day will also include presentations on economic and soil health opportunities with barley and ways to improve nutrient efficiency with cover crops.

Loran Steinlage, a farmer from Fayette County, Iowa, will discuss his efforts to improve soil health through strip-till, cover crops and interseeding.

“We want to offer encouragement and enticement to farmers to consider some practices to stimulate soil health,” Lake said. “One of those practices is cover crops.

The Roemkes have virtually every last acre of their farm in cover crops. This is a well-established, well-respected, top-of-the-line operation. If operations of this size adopt cover crops, we can get a bigger footprint out there.”

This is the third year for the field day. Last year, 120 people attended and Lake hopes to see that number closer to 200 this year. Many conservation programs have cost-share funds available to help with the establishment of some practices such as cover crops, he said.

For more information, contact a local SWCD office. The field day is 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Roemke farm, located at 12125 Indiana Road 101 in Harlan. While registration isn’t required, organizers would appreciate if those interested in attending could let them know at least a week before the event.

For more information, call 260-484-5848, ext. 3. Sponsors of the event include the Soil Health Partnership, the Allen County SWCD and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.