The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Plant Materials Program has been involved in the evaluation of conservation plants and planting technology for more than 80 years.

Plant Materials Centers (PMCs) in Manhattan, KS; Elsberry, MO; and East Lansing, MI conducted a 2-year evaluation of 56 commercially available varieties of cereal rye, hairy vetch, crimson clover, red clover, winter/field pea, black oats, black seeded oats, and daikon radish to assess their adaptation and performance as cover crops in the North Central PMC region.

Information from the study will assist conservation planners and farmers in selecting varieties to meet the cover crop objectives of their production systems.

For additional information on specific species of plants mentioned in this publication, please see the USDA PLANTS database or contact the nearest Plant
Materials Center and/or the Land Grant Universities that serve the State.

For specific information on soils and soil health, please see USDA NRCS soils website.

Also, see technical resources on the National Plant Materials Program Web site