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Deciding which cover crop to use

This is an online tool to help you quickly narrow the choices of cover crop for your situation. In a few seconds, you will have growing instructions for the cover crop that will do the job you need.

This tool is based on 1) the reason you need a cover crop; 2) when you have a chance to plant; and 3) how long it can stay in the field until you need to plant your next crop.

Choose one or more criteria, and click Submit. The database will return the cover crops that might fit, along with considerations that will let you quickly eliminate those that don't fit your situation.
Click on the name of the cover crop to get precise growing instructions.

Cover Crop Decision Tool
Management Goal	Planting Time	Duration
Select Management Goal Stabilize Soil Aggregates Reduce Surface Hardness Break Up Deep Compaction Increase Organic Matter Winter Erosion Protection Summer Erosion Protection Long Term Erosion Protection Winter Manure Application Reduce Weeds Reduce Root Rot Attract Beneficial Insects Nitrogen Fixation Nitrogen Scavenging	Planting Time Winter Early Spring Spring Early Summer Summer Late Summer Early Autumn Autumn Early Winter	Duration 1-2 mo 2-3 mo 4-10 mo >10 mo

If you get no hits, then there is not a good cover crop for the combination you selected. Try different criteria.

This tool is designed for the soil, climate, cropping practices and seed market in New York. It is probably useful in adjacent states and provinces as well. However, even slightly different timing of cash crop sowing or harvest can change the opportunity to use particular cover crops.