Wet conditions and flooding this spring in parts of the Midwest made for some difficult conditions for soybean planting, even to the point where many farmers were never able to get their crop in the ground. Grassland Oregon, a company specializing in science-based cover crop, turf, and forage seeds, says cover crop mixes can help producers take advantage of Risk Management Association (RMA) and National Resources Conservation Services’ (NRCS) Prevented Planting insurance program.

Flooding can cause nitrogen leaching or volatilization (microbe conversion) in the soil. One option to combat unfavorable conditions would be to plant FIXatioN balansa clover, a product from Grassland Oregon. FIXatioN will not only grow in water-logged soils, it is a Bio-Massive™ and hardy cover crop that fixes up to 200 pounds of nitrogen per acre. FIXatioN’s roots break up compacted soils, fix nitrogen and prepare the soil for the next year’s crop.

FIXatioN is a cost effective option for including in a mix when compared to other cover crop options. It can be seeded at a rate of 3-5 pounds per acre in a mix whereas cereal rye requires up to 50 pounds, triticale requires up to 80 pounds, and crimson clover requires up to 15 pounds. To get the most out of their Prevented Planting cover crop mix, farmers will quickly see a return on their investment from FIXatioN’s nitrogen fixing capabilities and low seeding rate.

FIXatioN balansa clover (Trifolium michelianum) is a cool season annual legume that can fix up to 200 pounds of nitrogen per acre while suppressing weeds. It grows up to 8 feet long with more than 30 blossoms per stem and is well suited for wildlife forage, attracts pollinators and breaks up soil compactions.