Cornell University CALS NYSAES

SEARCH:

Cover Crop Guide Cornell more options

• Why Cover Crops?
• Soil Health
• Cover Crops Decision Tool
• Newsletter Articles
• Early Summer
• Mid and Late Summer
• Late Summer Legumes
• Early Fall
• Fall
• Early Spring
• Cover Crop Information
• Annual Ryegrass
• Arugula
• Buckwheat
• Field Peas
• Forage Radish
• Forage Turnips and Rape
• Hairy Vetch
• Mustard, Spring
• Mustard, Fall
• Oats
• Red Clover
• Reed Canarygrass
• Rye
• Sudangrass
• Teff
• Wheat
  (Includes Spelt, Triticale)
• White Clover
• Seed Sources
• Photos
• Buckwheat growth
• Mustard, turnip and rapeseed after winter
• Weed suppression in spring

Seed Sources

Many of the mail-order seedhouses offer cover crop seed in smaller amounts. The specialist in unusual cover crop seed is Albert Lea Seedhouse in Minnesota. The shipping cost, about $70 per 50-lb bag, makes it most appropriate for smaller scale trials.

Local farmers and dealers may have farm-produced medium red clover, small grain and buckwheat that is suitable. Make sure it has no weed seed and germinates well. Not sure? Contact the New York State Seed Testing Lab. 315-787-2242

In New York, the suppliers below have cover crop seed for bulk purchase. These are often the primary distributor or actual producer, which keeps the price down. The delivered cost may be lower through your local farm seed dealer.

Seedway
Hall, NY with warehouses in PA and VT.
800-836-3710
Cover crop seed not currently online. Small grain, buckwheat, annual ryegrass, Sorghum-sudangrass.

Ernst Conservation Seed
Measdville, PA
800-873-3321
Ernst is a long-time seed producer of many kinds of cover crops, native plants and conservation species. Of particular interest are buckwheat, Bonar, Dwarf Essex and Rangi rapeseed, Appin and Pasja turnip. They have scheduled truck delivery to New York.

Lakeview Organic Grain
Penn Yan, NY
315-531-1038
Small grain, including spelt and triticale. Buckwheat. Often trying new things. Certified organic. A Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens enterprise.

Steve Groff Seeds
Holtwood, PA
717 575 6778
Steve's own selected "Tillage radish" and early maturing hairy vetch. Also distributed in NY by Leon Bird 1-800-743-2473 leon@birdhybrids.com and in PA by Lancaster Ag Products 717-687-9222

The Birkett Mills
Penn Yan, NY
315-536-3311
Buckwheat. The biggest processor in the East also sells cover crop seed.