Seeding Cover Crops with an Air Seeder and Rolling Harrow – Practical Cover Croppers

Will Cannon of Prairie City, IA has MacGyvered a method for seeding cover crops quickly and inexpensively. The setup: a Hiniker air seeder with Gandy seed meters mounted on a DIY frame which pulls a pre-owned J&M double rolling harrow. Will estimates this seeding method, including labor costs, to be just $5-$6/acre!

This video was filmed during his second fall with the set-up. Will explains how the system places the seed close to the soil under corn residue, while breaking down corn residue without causing soil disturbance. Ahead of corn, the Cannons employ RTK control traffic, plus special deflectors mounted on the air tube outlets to restrict the seed flow to 15-inch bands which are offset from the corn rows. Will explains that creating space between the rye and corn creates less early season competition for the corn and provides some flexibility on termination timing. Follow along for a close up of the system.

This project is supported by The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research. Any reference to specific products or technology does not constitute or imply an endorsement by FFAR for those products or technology.