Episode 85 | Cover Crop Conversations: when to seed a cover crop

The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast · Sep 12, 2026 · 9m · transcript

This episode of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast examines the crucial role of timing in cover crop establishment through discussions with regional farmers Adam Dahmer, Brent Fowler, and Greg Thoren. The speakers emphasize that optimal seeding dates depend on geographic location and operational goals, highlighting tools such as the Midwest Cover Crops Council's county-specific seeding charts. The panel explains the biological mechanics of fall planting, where autumn-seeded crops enter survival mode to establish subsurface root systems below the frost line rather than producing top…