Cover Cropping All 2,300 Acres

A man is kneeling down in a field of grass.

For Opey Rowell, a corn farmer near Manito, Illinois, conservation is more than a buzzword - it’s a practical, scalable strategy that makes sense for his bottom line and his soil.

He’s been farming since 2015, and five years ago, he started incorporating cover crops thanks to a tip from a friend. Now, nearly every acre he farms (over 2,300 in total) has a cover crop growing on it.

Opey uses wheat ahead of corn and cereal rye ahead of soybeans, and he keeps it simple. “If you are new to cover crops, start basic,” he advises. “You're going to get rewarded.”

A man wearing a hat and vest is standing in a field of green grass.

Strip-Till for the Win

A big part of Opey’s success comes from his decision to strip-till. “The strips allow you to farm around the cover crop,” he explains. “You get the best benefits from it, but yet have a seedbed to plant.” Strip-tilling into young cover crops allows him to let the crop grow longer into the spring, capturing the full biological benefit before terminating.

The Payoff

The results speak for themselves. Opey says he’s seen major improvements in weed suppression, residue breakdown, and nutrient and carbon retention. He vertical tills cover crops into the top few inches of soil to jumpstart microbial activity. “The combination works very well,” he says. “Your biggest return is in the spring, in March and April, when your biology and your soil is active ahead of your cash crop.”

Tips for Newcomers

If you’re just starting out with cover crops, Opey suggests finding a process that works on your acres, and fine-tuning it as needed for each field. “Take a field and try wheat or barley spread in the fall ahead of corn, vertical till it in, and when it’s 2 or 3 inches tall, put your strips in and let it grow,” he says.

He estimates his process costs around $30 per acre and often works with programs to offset those costs. “Look at your assets and decide on a plan that works for your farm first before looking at programs, not vice versa,” he encourages.

Trusted Support

Who does Opey turn to for advice? “Laura Lant with Midwest Grass and Forage has been a great tool for me. And having an agronomist who is very good and knowledgeable in cover crops is huge,” he says.

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