Cover Crops are Paying the Price
Sonny Price has brought excitement back to the farm. Sonny is a co-owner of Bruce Price & Sons Farm, which grows corn, soybeans, cotton, and wheat on over 8,000 acres across multiple counties in northeastern South Carolina. Bruce Price & Sons began using no-till in the late 80’s, but it wasn’t until 2012 when they began planting cover crops that they discovered significant improvements in the health of their soils.
Using cover crops has been a learning experience for Sonny, one that has brought challenges and growth to their operation. From the beginning, Sonny understood that cover crops couldn’t be another expense for the farm; they needed to pay for themselves. Sonny quickly discovered that cover crops improved the soil biology which reduced lime recommendations and phosphorus and potassium applications during the first year. Sonny could see that cover crops would not only pay for themselves but would actually improve the profitability of their entire farm.
In addition to reducing input expenses and, in some cases, completely eliminating the use of lime, synthetic fertilizers, and subsoiling, Bruce Price & Sons has found many hidden and unexpected benefits of cover crops. They do not use irrigation and don’t anticipate needing irrigation based on increases in soil organic matter and crop response to dry conditions. They have seen other benefits such as easier and earlier cotton defoliation and better residue management. They have found that summer cover crops following corn can outcompete resistant and difficult weeds like pigweed. They have even experienced improved landowner relationships by planting flowering species like sunflowers and sun hemp. At the end of the day, Sonny is able to sleep better knowing that improved soil health has made their crops more resilient to adverse weather and conditions outside of his control.
Sonny shared valuable information throughout the event that can be applied to a wide range of farms. It is important to understand that what works for Sonny may not work for your farm based on your access to equipment, labor, etc., however, the principles Sonny follows can still be useful to you. We’re grateful that Sonny is willing to share the information he’s learned from over a decade of experience with cover cropping. Here are some of the highlights Sonny shared:
Sonny and his family have never stopped learning. Using cover crops has been a challenge, but a good challenge that has brought excitement to the farm.
Sonny focuses on diversity over density, meaning he focuses on cover crop diversity rather than higher seeding rates, normally using a seven-way blend for his winter cover crop at a seeding rate of just 26 lbs/acre.
Live roots in the soil are more important than heavy biomass above ground. Planting late in the fall or early winter or late in the summer still provides a benefit. Even if winter cover crops are planted late in the season, they will still produce a large amount of biomass if they are allowed to mature later into the spring.
Sonny uses two grasses, three legumes, and two brassicas. Tailoring his blend to specific crops may lead to better results, but was not manageable, so he sticks to one blend.
Sonny always starts with a test plot for new practices, using 10 to 20 acres to trial new concepts before using them at a larger scale.
Sonny has continued using soil and plant tissue tests to ensure he is providing his crops with proper nutrition. The tissue tests – showing the nutrients the plants have actually accessed – often differ from the soil tests, due to the increased biological activity in the soil. Sonny has found point sampling to be the most effective way to track changes over time.
From the beginning, Sonny knew he needed to find a way to pay for cover crops for them to work. He is now using practices that were previously unheard of at his scale, such as cutting out all synthetic P and K, attempting to cut out all synthetic nutrients on his cotton acreage, stopping subsoiling, and cutting out all lime applications.
Sonny saw the pH of his soil drop initially when he ended lime applications, but the pH stabilized and remained at a consistent number that is still suitable for his crops.
Sonny has found that a Phillips harrow is the most effective tool for him to plant cover crops and achieve sufficient seed to soil contact for germination. The Phillips harrow lightly disturbs the soil and can be used much more quickly than a seed drill and provides better germination than broadcasting alone.
Sonny originally tried roller crimping for termination but found that it created an additional job and was not effective on uneven ground. They burn down cover crops with a herbicide pass for termination.
The soil is alive. Remembering that has changed the way Sonny farms, and he believes he is now farming the way God intended by building and taking care of the land.
Sonny has learned to trust the biology in the soil and has continually increased soil organic matter levels across the acreage he farms. Sonny enjoyed his best corn, wheat, and cotton yields ever last year and is excited for the learning experience going forward! Thank you to Bruce Price and Sons Farm, Choice Ag, and ArborOne Farm Credit for making this event possible!
