It is time to make lemonade out of lemons.  Many farmers, kept out of fields for all or much of the spring due to excessively wet weather, are becoming more familiar than they would like to be with the crop insurance term 'Prevented Plant'.  Prevented planting (PP) is not a desirable option, resulting in a small positive net return at best.  However, a small return (or a small loss) is better than potentially large losses due to late planting in very wet conditions.  The next question is, 'What do I do with prevented plant fields?'  Fortunately, there are a number of options.

Whatever option you choose, you want to achieve one or more of the following things:

1. Increase your chances of being profitable next year.
2. Make money on prevented plant fields by haying/grazing.
3. Establish a perennial crop, such as alfalfa or Kentucky bluegrass, or a winter annual crop such as winter wheat or winter rye.
4. Prevent erosion

There are some rules you will need to abide by set forth by the Risk Management Agency (RMA) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA).  RMA guidelines state the following:

Acceptable Cover Crops

1. Acceptable cover crops include the following, provided they are not prior established crops (e.g., alfalfa) and are planted for erosion control, green manure, etc., and are generally left in place for only one growing season:
   1. Annual, biennial, or perennial grasses and legumes (legumes such as alfalfa, soybeans, and peanuts are not considered a cover crop except as indicated in subsection H(2)(b)) including sorghum grass crosses, sudans, and volunteer stands other than weeds.
   2. Barley,oats, rice, wheat, and other small grains qualify, provided they are not harvested for grain or seed.
2. The approved cover crops may be hayed (chopped for silage) or grazed after the final planting date for the insured crop only if allowed by PP policy provisions, but may not be harvested for grain or seed.
3. The above cover crops are commonly recognized in the farming community as cover crops and are consistent with those previously approved by the USDA for FSA administered programs.
4. Corn planted for any use is not considered to be a cover crop.

Under these guidelines sweet clover, Kentucky bluegrass, and other fall-seeded perennial crops are permissible cover crops on PP acres, as are sudangrass, millet, dry peas interseeded with grains or alone, and small grains, as long as these crops are not harvested for grain. Consult with your crop insurance agent about any other crops in question. RMA officials have also clarified that alfalfa planted in August or early  September for fall establishment is allowable on PP acreage.  Alfalfa cannot be planted this spring, however, either to establish the crop or to use as a green manure plow-down.  Sunflower cannot be planted on PP acres either.

Producers should also be aware of cover crop requirements by the government for idled contract acreage. By signing Form CCC-478 through the Farm Service Agency, producers agree to protect idled contract acreage (base acres) from erosion and weeds.  A minimum 30 percent of the soil surface of idled acreage with less than 3 percent slope must be covered with crop residue.  Minimum residue of 40 percent is required for fields with more then 3 percent slope.  Clean tillage may be used on fields with less than 3 percent slope, provided land is protected from wind and water erosion during the fall and winter by one or more approved practices.

The cover crop seeding deadline for idled contract acreage is August 20.  An extension of up to 15 days is possible if seeding is delayed due to reasons beyond a producer's control.  Small grains seeded after September 1 must be winter wheat or winter rye.  Contact your local FSA Office for information on what acres you farm that are subject to these guidelines or for more details.

Okay, now that we have all the rules, what are the best options?

1) Summer Fallow.  Many growers will choose to summer fallow and make improvements to PP fields.  Many improvements can be made using this option, including:

Drainage.  Seriously consider surface and subsurface drainage (tile), as well as land contouring to improve runoff.

Remove rocks.

Control weeds - especially perennials.  As always, all weeds should be prevented from going to seed.

Reduce disease potential.  A fallow period will allow disease inoculum to decompose as long as no disease host is present.  Many weeds are hosts for diseases that infect crops, so weed control will also aid in disease control.

Remember, one disadvantage of summer fallow is that there is no plant material growing on the soil to remove excess soil moisture.  Summer fallowed fields often are very wet in the spring, and are the last fields that can be planted.

2) Establish a Perennial or Fall Seeded Crop.  Many of the improvements listed in #1 can be made, and a field can be prepared for a fall seeded crop.  Options here include:

Winter wheat or winter rye

Alfalfa (as long as it is not seeded until August), or another fall seeded legume.

Kentucky bluegrass or other fall seeded perennial grass crop.

3) Graze/Hay.  This is an excellent option for livestock/hay producers.

There are many possibilities here.  Fields can be planted then grazed, hayed, green chopped, or any combination thereof.  Remember, you don't have to have livestock - hay can be sold.  There are many crops that could be planted using this option, including:

Legumes.  Legumes are an excellent option that can produce high quality forage and are excellent green manure crops (see option #4).  There are many legumes that could be used, including:

Clovers - red, white, alsike, ladino, kura, sweet, berseem.  These are perennials - except for sweet clover, which is a biennial - that can be tilled up or left for subsequent years.  They are usually seeded in early spring or August, and establishment may be hit or miss during the hotter, drier part of the summer.  Sweet clover is more suitable for plow-down than for grazing/haying.

Field Peas - Field peas are easy to establish and grow well in our climate.  However, it is a cool season crop and growth will be reduced by hot weather.

Birdsfoot Trefoil - Birdsfoot trefoil is a perennial that is usually planted in the early spring.  Getting a good stand may be very difficult when planted in June.

Hairy or Crown Vetch - These are perennials that are usually planted in the early spring or August.  Establishment may be difficult when planted in June.

Sudangrass, sorghum sudangrass, and millet.  These are warm season grass crops that will grow better than cool season crops such as wheat, oats, and barley when planted during the warm part of the summer.  They can produce a large quantity of reasonable quality forage if managed properly.

Small Grains - Wheat, barley, or oats can be planted and grazed, hayed, and/or green chopped.  These are cool season grasses.  Growth will be reduced by hot weather, but they are easy to establish, seed is cheap and available, and they will provide cover.

Mixes - Legumes can be mixed with grasses, such as peas and oats, which is a common forage mix. There are literally dozens of potential mixes that might be suitable for various situations.

4) Green Manures.  A crop that is grown for the purpose of tilling into the soil to improve soil structure and/or soil fertility is referred to as a green manure.  Any RMA approved crop can be used as a green manure.  However, legumes are particularly well suited because of their ability to fix (make available to plants) atmospheric nitrogen.  (Make sure you use the proper seed treatment inoculant with any legume).  A legume can be used for hay or grazing, and then tilled in as a green manure.  However, the green manure effect is increased as the amount of plant material tilled in increases.

All the legumes listed in #3 above can be used as green manures.  However, those that produce the most plant material will usually make the best green manures.  The N benefit varies depending on which legume is used, how much soil N is present, and other factors.  As a rule of thumb, for each ton of forage produced 40 pounds of N will be added to the soil for use by subsequent crops.

In addition, green manures can improve soil structure by adding a small amount of organic matter and by 'loosening' the soil.  Sweet clover is particularly known for its ability to improve soil structure.  Sweet clover has a large, long tap root that appears to have a very beneficial effect on soil structure.

Buckwheat, a non-legume, can also be used as a green manure.  Many believe that buckwheat is very good at extracting phosphorus from the soil and increasing P availability to subsequent crops.

As you can see, there are many options.  This article is just a very brief overview.  You will likely need to consult with your crop advisor to obtain more detailed information regarding the specific options that fit your situation.