Home Turf Forage Cover Crops Articles & News Connect with Us Partners Cover Crops Cover crops have been a part of crop rotations for many years. We are committed to the adoption of cover crops wherever agricultural land exists. The concept of our company focus on extended research and development of cover crops will continue to expand, increasing your soils' health for the years to come. Healthier soils begin with seed. Deciding which cover crop to use is important. Use this Cover Crop Decision Tool to assist you in determining what Cover Crop is best suited for your area and needs. ANNUAL FORAGES AND COVER CROPS N-DURE COVER CROP INOCULANT ** Exclusive to Speare Seeds ** A premium non-sterile peat inoculant for blended cover crops. Rhizobia bacteria inoculants are crucial to allowing a legume to properly fix large amounts of nitrogen. Legume cover crops increase nitrogen in the soil, which in turn benefits the following corn or grass crop. Seeding Rate Buckwheat Usually planted in the late summer to early fall. Can be used in pasture, hay, organic farming, pollinator enhancement, silage mixes, as a w inter cover for soil protection or green manure crop for soil improvement. 55 lbs. per acre Crimson Clover Combination of high forage yields and quality. Highly resistant to 6 major diseases that attack alfalfa and is resistant to Aphanomyces Root Rot (Race 2). Very leafy and excellent winter survival with an aggressive regrowth habit. 25-30 lbs. per acre Fall Rye Fall Rye can be utilized as a cover crop for w ind erosion, weed suppression and the addition of organic matter. If planted early in August, Fall Rye can also be available for fall forage and a source of feed for the spring. 100 lbs. per acre FIXatioN Balansa Clover FIXatioN balansa clover is not your typical clover. It is the most cold-tolerant annual clover and can tolerate a variety of soil types and can even grow through short periods of standing water. As an annual clover, FIXatioN also helps with soil drainage and water infiltration due to its deep tap root system. FIXatioN suppresses weeds, prevents erosion and keeps soil cool and moist. An ideal rotation crop, FIXatioN can be broadcast into standing corn and used after small grains. Livestock and wildlife love FIXatioN for its excellent palatability and digestibility! It is ideal for forage because it is nutrient dense and produces Bio-Massive yields. With FIXatioN's high crude protein levels and relative feed value, you will see better gains and healthier animals. Click here for more information on FIXatioN Balansa Clover Alone: 5-8 lbs. per acre In a Mix: 3-5 lbs. per acre Fodder Rape Seed in late July to early August for fall pasture. 7 lbs. per acre Hairy Vetch Good cold seedling. High protein forage and hay. Winter annual for ground cover. 20-25 lbs. per acre Oats Quick establishment for weed suppression and erosion prevention. Can be utilized in fall for emergency feed. 110 lbs. per acre Sunn Hemp Fast growing cover crop that suppresses nematodes and weeds. Outstanding nitrogen and biomass production in a short period. Killed by first frost 9-15 lbs. per acre MILLET Seeding Rate Japanese Millet Excellent for gamebirds. Can tolerate moist soil conditions. 25 lbs. per acre Pearl Millet High yielding and has high protein. Relatively fast root development and excellent drought tolerance. Does not produce Prussic Acid. 25 lbs. per acre MUSTARD Seeding Rate Brown Mustard Used as a green manure. 7-10 lbs. per acre Oriental Mustard Useful bio fumigant for the suppression of a number of nematodes. 7-10lbs. per acre PEAS Seeding Rate Austrian Winter Peas Austrian Winter Pea is a quick establishing, cool-season annual legume with good, nitrogen-fixing capabilities. Commonly used for grazing, hay and as a green manure. 90-100 lbs. per acre Black Forage Peas High protein content with excellent digestibility and palatability. Best used in a forage mix. If used as a cover crop, peas possess good nitrogen fixing abilities for soil conditioning. 110 lbs. per acre Yellow Semi-Leafless Peas Yellow semi-leafless peas have a more open canopy than forage vining peas, they remain erect longer, and dry down more rapidly after a rain or heavy dew compared to conventional varieties. 90-100 lbs. per acre RADISH Seeding Rate Groundbreaker Radish A Daikon type forage radish specifically developed for fall/winter cover crop applications. Deep penetrating taproot that reduces soil compaction, builds organic matter and improves nutrient recycling. 8 lbs. per acre Oilseed Radish Tap rooted annual for plowdown and winter cover. 10 lbs. per acre Tillage Radish A cover crop for green manure. Planted after wheat or grain harvest and is the result of over 10 years research, rigorous testing and careful selection of plant attributes. A unique large taproot that can reach depths of 30 inches. BENEFITS: Increased Crop Yields Compaction Alleviation Enhanced Seed Bed Increased Soil Organic Matter 8 lbs. per acre TRITICALE Seeding Rate Spring Triticale A cool-season cereal crop originating from a cross of durum wheat and rye. Taller and leafier than wheat or oats, it tolerates hot, dry weather better than wheat, is higher in protein and has more feed value when chopped for forage. 75-90 lbs. per acre Winter Triticale High-yielding, early maturing cross between winter rye and winter wheat. Winter triticale does double duty as a cover crop planted in the fall while producing high-quality forage in late spring. 75-90lbs. per acre TURNIP Seeding Rate Barkant Turnip A tankard type bulb where 50% of the bulb is above the ground. Matures in 12-14 weeks. Has a high bulb yield with increased palatability. 4-5 lbs. per acre New York Turnip A type of stubble turnip which has a maturity of 16 weeks. Globe type (greater leaf to bulb ratio) with a purple top. 4-5 lbs. per acre Winfred Brassica A hybrid between turnip and kale. Has a high leaf stem ratio. It is early maturing at 10-12 weeks. Very winter hardy. 4-5 lbs. per acre Certified Seed - Certified seed guarantees the seed you buy has gone through all proper multiplication, inspection and cleaning processes to ensure a superior product. Certified seed is tested to ensure excellent germination, has improved traits like dark green colour, pest and drought tolerance and is tested and graded by accredited experts. 99 John St. N, PO Box 171, Harriston, ON N0G 1Z0 info@speareseeds.ca A Canadian Company celebrating 50 Years in the Seed Industry