Cover crops can be used for different reasons, such as to provide soil erosion protection, alleviate compaction, control weeds, fix atmospheric nitrogen for the next crop, harvest for hay, and as a grazing resource. The reason for using a cover crop will determine which species or mixture of species you choose, as well as how you manage it.

Tim Reinbott, a plant scientist with the University of Missouri, discusses the different crimping dates prior to no-till planting corn into rye and hairy vetch.

Tim Reinbott, a plant scientist with the University of Missouri, discusses the benefits of no-till planting corn into green hairy vetch.

Garrett Montgomery from the University of Tennessee’s Institute of Agriculture discusses residue management and the timing of terminating various cover crops ahead of planting corn in this video from June 2016.

Environmental benefit is part of organic market value, but organic weed management usually means tillage, commonly considered a black mark for soil health.

Annual cover crops grown in place of fallow can provide high-quality forage during key production periods and may help reduce soil erosion, suppress weeds, and increase soil nutrient profiles, but some may not be suitable for forage or grazing, says Kansas State University Extension.