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Highboy rises above barriers to plant cover crops in cornfields

Kristen Sindelar
Oct 27, 2022
Oct 27, 2022

Highboy Interseeder 1.jpg — Attendees of the field day Sept. 7 at Colon, Neb., got to see the highboy in action as it interseeded the cover crop seed into the established corn field.
Nate Dorsey

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Cover crops are typically planted in fields of soybeans or with little to no groundcover following silage harvest. Too many barriers have prevented producers from planting cover crops in a cornfield, though.

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Highboy Interseeder 2.jpg — The highboy seeder is a modified Hagie sprayer, selected for its high clearance to prevent damage to the tall cornstalks as it roves the field.
Nate Dorsey

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Highboy Interseeder 3.jpg — Tubes of the interseeder drop the cover crop seed under the canopy of the corn, but irrigation or rain is required to integrate the seed into the soil.
Nate Dorsey

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Highboy Interseeder 4.jpg — The highboy cover crop interseeding project is a joint venture of Nebraska Extension, the Natural Resources District and the Department of Environment and Energy.
Nate Dorsey

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Reporter Kristen Sindelar has loved agriculture her entire life, coming from a diversified farm with three generations working side-by-side in northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at Kristen.Sindelar@midwestmessenger.com.