By Scout Nelson
The early pre-pile sugar beet harvest, starting August 12, presents an excellent opportunity to establish cover crops that help reduce wind and water erosion during the winter and early spring. Winter rye is a popular choice, known for being easy to establish and highly winter-hardy.
However, spring or winter wheat may also seem like viable options. It's important to consider pest and disease risks before choosing wheat, especially if planting spring wheat on this year's sugar beet acreage or adjacent fields.
An earlier seeding of cover crops allows them to grow taller, but this also creates a "green bridge" for pests such as barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), wheat curl mite/wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), and Hessian fly, which can overwinter and harm the following year's wheat crops. Rye, like wheat, can be a host for these pests. To prevent this, the cover crop must survive the winter and resume growth in the spring.
Two main options avoid the green bridge: First, oats can be used as a cover crop. Oats are not a host for Hessian flies, and they typically winterkill, reducing the risk of pest transfer to next year’s crops. Oats can be seeded deeper than wheat or rye, improving the chances of successful establishment.
The second option is to use winter rye, but it must be terminated before the first killing frost. If seeding occurs after beet harvest, ensure the fly-free date of September 15 is followed. Rye should also be terminated in spring, allowing time for pests like wheat curl mite to leave the field.
For soybean planting, winter rye can be left to overwinter and terminated at the boot stage. This gives an adequate window for spring herbicide burndown, minimizing yield losses.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-luiscarlosjimenezi
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Sugar Beets