Soybean School: Drone seeding cover crops takes flight

When it comes to plant roots and residue that help control erosion and contribute to soil health, soybeans always get a failing grade. But with advances in drone technology, the future will bring more opportunity for timely fall seeding of cover crops to better manage the poor contribution the oilseed crop makes to soil organic matter and conservation. On this episode of RealAgriculture Soybean School, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness soil management specialist Jake Munroe highlights the importance of establishing cover crops after soybeans, particularly in Ontario where 3 million acres of soybeans are planted annually. To get a better look at the role drone seeding can play in establishing those cover crops, Munroe visits dairy producer Leslie Miles to see how cereal rye performed after it was seeded last fall on Sept. 26 into 30-inch soybeans. The trial at Miles' Maranatha Farm in Hamilton, Ont., is part of a Living Lab — Ontario multi-year project to evaluate drone seeding and establish best management practices. In the video, both Munroe and Miles are mighty impressed with how the rye established, given the relatively late seeding date, and the biomass the crop has produced. Munroe notes that not all the cover crops seeded in fall 2024 into soybeans and corn at the four Living Lab locations were a success. But he says there's lots to learn about drone seeding oats, red clover, and cereal rye to help growers be successful in the future. Website: https://www.realagriculture.com/ #agriculture #farming Find us on our other social media platforms: X/Twitter:   / realagriculture   Instagram:   / realagriculture   Facebook:   / realagmedia