Crop Rotation & Cover Crops

Certified Lacey Barley Seed

Certified Lacey Barley has become the new standard for feeding barley in the upper Midwest. Known for its high-quality forage and respectable tonnage, Lacey Barley is highly valued both for its forage quality and its malting and brewing characteristics. It is also an excellent option for replacing corn in cattle diets.Benefits High Yielding: Consistently top-yielding since its release. High-Quality Forage: Produces very high-quality forage with excellent yield to quality ratios when harvested at the boot stage. Versatile Use: Can be used as forage or as a replacement for corn in cattle diets. Malting and Brewing: Favorable for malting and brewing due to high malt extract, low soluble protein, and high alpha-amylase activity. Good Lodging Resistance: Sturdy and resistant to lodging, ensuring reliable growth and yield. Characteristics Type: Six-row barley with medium-sized kernels. Planting Range: Early spring for optimal growth. Seeding Rate: Sow seeds at a rate of 80-100 lbs/acre. Planting Instructions Timing: Plant in early spring for the best results. Seeding Rate: Use 80-100 lbs/acre to ensure optimal growth and yield. Certified Lacey Barley is a versatile and reliable option for farmers looking to produce high-quality forage or malt. Its excellent malting characteristics and high yield make it a valuable crop for both forage and brewing industries. The added benefit of good lodging resistance ensures a stable and productive crop season.

Brassica Food Plot Seed Mix

This blend is perfect for the food plotter who is looking for a diverse, late-season draw.  Comprised of 5 northern-hardy and frost tolerant brassica species, this is a mix that will remain green when other plots have frost killed.   Very cold tolerant Handles intensive browsing Provides quality, nutritious forage Fast growing This mix is best utilized when planted in late July or Early August.  Seed at 1/8-1/4" deep. Weight Coverage 3 lbs 1/3 acre 6 lbs 2/3 acre 9 lbs 1 acre

Legume Grass Forage Seed Mix

Elk Mound Seed's Legume Grass Mix is a high-producing legume blend designed for growth-responsive and persistent pastures. This mix offers excellent palatability and valuable hay, making it an ideal choice for round balers. You can seed this mix alone or enhance it by adding some of our high-quality grasses.Recommended Use: High producing legume mix Seed alone or add some of our grasses for enhanced pasture performance Seeding Rates:Use a seeding rate of 15-18 lbs/acrePlanting Range:Spring, late summerMixture Contains: 60% Megaleaf Alfalfa: Provides a high yield and exceptional forage quality, ensuring robust and nutritious growth. 20% Timothy: Adds resilience and improves the forage's nutritional profile. 15% Medium Red Clover: Enhances the mix with its excellent nitrogen-fixing capabilities and high palatability. 5% Alsike Clover: Adds diversity and adaptability to various soil conditions. Drydown Quality: The Legume Grass Mix has good overall drydown qualities, thanks to the excellent drying characteristics of Megaleaf Alfalfa, which anchors the mix. While Timothy and Medium Red Clover may dry more slowly, they contribute to the high nutritional value and palatability of the forage. Alsike Clover, though less drought-tolerant, complements the mix by adapting well to moist soils. Together, these components ensure a balanced drydown process, making the mix suitable for high-quality hay production under proper management practices.This Legume Grass Mix is designed to create a productive and sustainable pasture, offering high-quality forage and reliable growth.

Big Bluestem Seed (Andropogon gerardii)

Warm season grass. Works well to mix with a cool season grass. This seed is sold as pure live seed (PLS). Pure live seed is the percentage of pure and viable seed in a given lot. Scientific name: Andropogon gerardii Warm season, perennial bunch grass. Works well to mix with a cool season grass. Has an attractive reddish-copper color in fall and can help create beautiful landscape. Blooms from June through September. Can reach heights of 3-8 feet tall. Grown in Western Minnesota. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT WARM SEASON GRASSES ARE PLANTED WITHIN 300 MILES WHERE GROWN. Soil Type: Well drained. Longevity: Pereninial. Moisture requirement: Adaptable to dry. Approximately 145,300 seeds/lb Planting Range: May 1-June 1 or fall seeding

VNS Winter Rye Seed

Winter rye is an incredibly versatile winter cereal, making it an exceptional choice for cover cropping. Known for its effectiveness in soil stabilization, biomass production, weed suppression, and nutrient accumulation, winter rye is a highly productive cool-season grass. It offers a long planting window and can germinate at temperatures as low as 34 degrees Fahrenheit, making it highly adaptable to various growing conditions. Benefits Soil Stabilization: Excellent at stabilizing soil and preventing erosion. Biomass Production: Produces significant biomass, contributing to soil organic matter. Weed Suppression: Highly effective at suppressing weeds, maintaining clean fields. Nutrient Accumulation: Ties up nitrogen close to the soil’s surface, enhancing soil fertility and structure. Cold Tolerance: Germinates in soils as cold as 35°F, extending the planting season. Soil Adaptability: Handles low fertility and acidic soils, ensuring robust growth in challenging conditions. Characteristics Type: Cool season grass. C:N Ratio: 40-80:1, contributing to efficient nutrient cycling. Planting Instructions Seeding Rate: Seed at 80-120 lbs/acre when planted alone, and 20-90 lbs/acre when used in mixes. Seeding Depth: Plant seeds at a depth of 1/2-2 inches. Planting Range: Late summer to fall for optimal establishment. Winter rye from Elk Mound Seed is a highly effective cover crop that provides outstanding soil stabilization, weed suppression, and nutrient management. Its cold tolerance and adaptability make it a reliable choice for maintaining soil health and productivity throughout the winter months.

Crimson Clover Seed

Crimson clover is an annual summer clover known for its rapid, robust growth and ability to fix approximately 50-60 lbs of nitrogen per acre by mid-November. It is a winter annual and will commonly overwinter except in the Upper Midwest. Being a legume, crimson clover provides good feed qualities, including high protein content and yield. It is very compatible in mixes with grasses, brassicas, and other legumes.Benefits Nitrogen Fixation: Provides approximately 50-60 lbs of nitrogen per acre by mid-November, enhancing soil fertility. High Biomass Production: Produces up to 1,500 lbs of dry matter, making it an excellent plow-down crop. Good Feed Quality: As a legume, it offers high protein content and good yield for forage. Compatibility: Very compatible in mixes, including grasses, brassicas, and other legumes. Winter Annual: Overwinters in many regions, extending its benefits into the following growing season. Characteristics Type: Annual summer clover. C:N Ratio: 20:1, contributing to efficient nutrient cycling. Planting Instructions Seeding Rate: Seed at 15-18 lbs/acre when planted alone, and 6-9 lbs/acre when used in mixes. Planting Range: Suitable for planting in spring and summer. Crimson clover from Elk Mound Seed is an excellent choice for enhancing soil fertility and providing high-quality forage. Its rapid growth, nitrogen-fixing capabilities, and compatibility with other crops make it a versatile and valuable addition to any cover crop or forage program.

Buster (Daikon) Radish Seed

Daikon radishes are highly beneficial for soil health, providing multiple advantages such as alleviating soil compaction, improving water infiltration, increasing organic matter, and offering excellent weed suppression. These radishes, including the Badger brand, feature an aggressive taproot that drills through compaction where steel cannot, creating root channels for subsequent crops to access essential nutrients and water. Studies show that Buster® Radishes consistently increase soybean and corn yields by scavenging significant amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium. Upon decomposition, these nutrients are left in the upper 10 inches of soil, improving soil fertility for future crops.Benefits Soil Compaction: The large taproot and deep-reaching secondary roots alleviate soil compaction, improving soil structure. Nutrient Scavenging: Scavenges and stores nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium in the root system, releasing them upon decomposition. Water Infiltration: Enhances water infiltration and aeration, reducing runoff and increasing soil moisture retention. Weed Suppression: Thick upper foliage provides excellent weed suppression by shading out weeds during the growing season and forming a thin film over the soil after the radish freezes out. Yield Improvement: Boosts subsequent crop yields, with studies showing yield improvements of 10% or more. Characteristics Type: Cool season broadleaf. C:N Ratio: 20:1, contributing to efficient nutrient cycling. Root System: Features a large taproot and deep-reaching secondary roots with thick upper foliage. Planting Instructions Seeding Rate: Seed at 8-10 lbs/acre when planted alone, and 3-6 lbs/acre when used in mixes. Seeding Depth: Plant seeds at a depth of 1/2 inch to 1 inch. Planting Range: June to August, at least 4-10 weeks before the first killing frost in your area. Daikon radishes from Elk Mound Seed are an excellent choice for improving soil health and boosting crop yields. Their aggressive taproots and nutrient-scavenging capabilities make them a valuable addition to any cover crop program, enhancing soil fertility, structure, and water management.

Purple Top Turnip Seed

Turnips are a cool-season annual brassica commonly used in cover crop cocktails. They germinate quickly and are excellent weed suppressors. Turnips are great nutrient accumulators and break down quickly in the spring, enriching the soil for subsequent crops. They are also an excellent forage for livestock producers who want to graze their cover crops. Their rapid growth makes them ideal for short growing windows, and they provide excellent grazing value late in the season.Benefits Rapid Growth: Turnips germinate quickly, making them suitable for short growing windows. Weed Suppression: Effective at suppressing weeds due to their rapid growth and ground coverage. Nutrient Accumulation: Accumulate nutrients and break down quickly in the spring, enriching the soil. Grazing Value: Provide excellent grazing value late in the season, ideal for livestock producers. Cool Season Adaptation: Perform well in cool-season conditions, extending the growing season. Characteristics Type: Cool season annual brassica. C:N Ratio: 25:1, contributing to efficient nutrient cycling. Planting Instructions Seeding Rate: Seed at 5-8 lbs/acre when planted alone, and 2-4 lbs/acre when used in mixes. Seeding Depth: Plant seeds at a depth of 1/4-1/2 inch. Planting Range: Late summer to early fall for optimal establishment. Turnips from Elk Mound Seed are an excellent choice for cover crops and grazing, offering rapid growth, effective weed suppression, and valuable nutrient accumulation. Their ability to break down quickly in the spring enriches the soil for future crops, making them a versatile and beneficial addition to any cover crop program.