Go Green This St. Patrick’s Day with Balansa Clover as a Cover Crop

Tara Desmond
March 13, 2025

St. Patrick’s Day is all about celebrating the color green, so what better time to highlight Balansa Clover—a powerhouse cover crop that keeps your fields lush, healthy, and full of benefits!

Why Choose Balansa Clover?

Balansa Clover is a nitrogen-fixing, fast-growing legume that enhances soil health while offering excellent forage options. It thrives in a variety of conditions and provides multiple benefits for farmers:

  • Soil Health – Improves soil structure, reduces compaction, and enhances organic matter.
  • Nitrogen Fixation – Can fix up to 100-150 lbs of nitrogen per acre, reducing fertilizer costs.
  • Weed Suppression – Dense growth helps shade out weeds, reducing herbicide needs.
  • Erosion Control – Forms a thick mat that prevents soil erosion and improves water retention.
  • Livestock & Wildlife Benefits – Provides high-quality forage for grazing animals and attracts pollinators.

Seeding Guide for Balansa Clover

To get the most out of Balansa Clover, proper seeding is key.

  • Seeding Method: Drill or broadcast (can also be frost-seeded for early establishment).
  • Seeding Rate: 3-5 lbs/acre if drilled; 5-8 lbs/acre if broadcast.
  • Seeding Depth: ¼ to ½ inch deep—shallow is best for good germination.
  • Seeding Dates:
  • Spring Planting: February to April (ideal for frost seeding).
  • Fall Planting: August to October (for overwintering and spring growth).

Balansa Clover is a perfect fit for farmers looking to improve soil health while keeping their fields greener—both in color and sustainability. So, this St. Patrick’s Day, consider adding a little extra luck to your farm with Balansa Clover.

pork power l
November 20, 2025
The Illinois Pork Producers Association and IL Corn share a longstanding partnership that strengthens livestock production, boosts grain demand, and supports food banks through the Pork Power program. Learn how this collaboration benefits farmers and families across Illinois.
World map showing corn-based biofuel production and transport routes, with a tanker, and a corn graphic.
By Lyndi Allen November 20, 2025
Trade deals and tariff negotiations are increasingly critical as farmers conclude the U.S. corn and soybean harvest; new opportunities could ease profitability pressures
shane, jena and f
By Tara Desmond November 20, 2025
Ducks Unlimited’s Fletcher Morgan and Jenna Herrick share how farmer involvement is growing — and transforming — DU’s work across the Big Rivers Initiative
turkey farm
By Tara Desmond November 20, 2025
Discover how Illinois farmers help raise nearly 3 million turkeys each year, the vital role Illinois corn plays in their growth, and how these birds make their way from local farms to Thanksgiving tables nationwide.
graphic of a furnace filter made from corn
By Tara Desmond November 19, 2025
Discover how Aerterra is transforming U.S. corn into high-performance, PFAS-free furnace filters and redefining clean air with renewable, bio-based materials.
Ducks
By Lyndi Allen November 13, 2025
Ducks Unlimited partners with Illinois farmers—helping them “farm the best and conserve the rest.”
Show More