Aerial Seeding Cover Crops. Aerial seeding involves dropping cover crop seeds into standing corn or soybeans via an airplane or helicopter. Ive seen costs of 14 to 16 an acre for labor machinery and fuel to drill cover crops.
Aerial seeding applications are usually in that late summer period when there is still ample opportunity to take advantage of sunlight and heat. When broadcasting seed it is recommended to increase the seeding rate 25-40 as compared to seeding with a drill or a planter. What we dont want is overseeding cover crops into a thick dark corn canopy.
Timing of aerial seeding As a general rule aerially-seeded cover crops should be sown at least 7 to 10 days earlier than drilled cover crops because they are somewhat slower to establish a stand.
The Allamakee SWCD SWCD recognized this need and initiated a program to aerial seed cover crops in August 2012. Drilling or broadcasting with a shallow incorporation of the seeds establishes the cover crop more consistently. Aerial seeding service for sustainable agricultureConcord Massachusetts email. Aerial seeding is the least expensive method especially if you take into account the longer growth period.
