Get it Done With A Drone Cover Crop Field Day

Thursday, November 21, 2024
4-6 PM
Seymore High School
Ag Science Facility
721 F Ave E
Seymour, IN

Join us in Jackson County on Thursday, November 21 at the Seymour High School Ag Science Facility for a FREE cover crop field day. Learn how you can use drones to plant cover crops while your main crop is still growing. This allows the cover crops to get a head start before winter weather arrives and also means one less pass over the fields with heavy equipment.

In September, the school used a drone to plant oats, radish, and crimson clover into standing soybeans. We will watch video footage of the seeding, walk the fields to see how the cover crops are growing, and hear from experts with Premier Ag and WinField United. Cover crops are a great way to build soil health and to protect the soil during the winter months. However, it can be challenging to get cover crops planted after the main crops are harvested. There are only a handful of crops that can be planted in October or November with cereal rye being the most common. Drones allow a producer to plant cover crops earlier in the season, providing more choice in plant varieties and increasing the likelihood of significant plant growth before frost arrives. Come and see how it’s working for the high school and what might work for your farm.

We will also talk about funding opportunities including the Lake Monroe Watershed Conservation Cost-Share Program. This program covers up to 75% of the cost of select conservation practices in the Lake Monroe watershed, which spans portions of Monroe, Brown, and Jackson counties. Participants are also welcome to stay and join the Seymour chapter of Future Farmers of America for dinner at 6:00. Register online at https://www.friendsoflakemonroe.org/events-page/drone-cover-crop-field-day