When it comes to winter cover crops in Missouri, our team has narrowed down the top five options we think give you the best bang for your buck. Each one brings a unique benefit to the table—whether it’s boosting nitrogen, improving soil structure or providing winter forage. Here are our top five picks to help Missouri farmers make the most out of their cover crop choices this season.
1. Crimson Clover
Crimson clover is a powerhouse for improving nitrogen levels in the soil. This winter-hardy legume can fix up to 150 pounds of nitrogen per acre, setting the stage for a solid spring crop. Its roots work to break up compacted soil while the flowers attract pollinators, making it great for soil health and your future harvest. Plus, crimson clover holds up against frost, allowing it to overwinter in most parts of Missouri.
2. Cereal Rye
If you’re looking for a cover crop that’s cold-hardy and versatile, cereal rye is your crop. It can be planted late in the fall—even as late as December—and is reliable at reducing erosion with its dense root system. It does double duty by crowding out weeds and keeping nitrogen in the soil, which is great for future crops. Cereal rye also produces a hefty amount of biomass that can be used as forage or left to add organic matter to the soil.
3. Purple Top Turnips
Purple top turnips are a popular choice for winter cover and livestock forage. These hardy crops create a thick canopy that shades out weeds. Turnips also add organic matter to the soil and have the added benefit of natural herbicides that suppress weed seeds. And if you’ve got livestock, they’ll appreciate the nutrient-dense forage these turnips provide.
4. GroundHog Radish
Known for its deep taproots, this radish is great at breaking up compacted soil. It’s a tough crop, tolerating light frost and growing well through the cool season. GroundHog radish is a nitrogen recycler, capturing leftover nutrients and storing them for the next planting season. When it dies off, it decomposes quickly, releasing those nutrients back into the soil while the leftover holes make spring planting easier.
5. Austrian Winter Peas
Austrian winter peas bring solid cold tolerance and soil benefits, surviving temperatures as low as 0°F. These peas act as natural nitrogen fixers and keep soil erosion at bay with a ground-covering canopy. Unlike other crops, their shallow roots prevent depletion of deep soil moisture, which can be a bonus in Missouri’s variable weather. For livestock farmers, these peas also double as an early spring forage crop.
Trust Missouri Southern Seed for Your Cover Crop Needs
Choosing the right cover crop means taking into account factors like timing, purpose and whether you’re looking for warm-season or cool-season options. At Missouri Southern Seed, we’ll help you find the cover crop that’s the right fit for your fields and your goals. Whether you’re drilling, broadcasting, aerial seeding or using a row crop planter, our team is here to make sure your cover crop works as hard as you do, every season.
