Biomass Builders
Take your farming system to the next level
Prevent erosion, improve soil structure, increase soil organic matter, increase fertility, suppress weeds, grow fodder and enhance diversity with fast-growing annual cover crops. For your convenience, clovers are pre-inoculated with appropriate rhizobia (OMRI Certified)
Are you a cover crop creative? The possibilities are truly endless. We are able to work with you on custom mixes that fit your needs (minimum orders apply). Single varieties are also available.
Prices listed are based on availability at the time of publishing. Please call for the most current price.
Diverse Biomass
Sold out for 2024
This species-rich mix is designed to stabilize soils, build soil organic matter, and fix a moderate amount of N. Depending on soil available soil moisture, this mix will feed bees through June in a typical Willamette Valley. Meadowfoam adds diversity in floral resources, and has anecdotally been observed to improve crop vigor in seed fields that follow it. No vine-climbing vetch included! Best drilled at 1'-1/2” deep in mid September. Consider the following reduced-till method to conserve earthworms and organic matter: Terminate by flail mowing when cereals are at anthesis stage, then shallow cultivate in late summer for seed-bed prep or just no-till drill. Clovers are inoculated with rhizobia to maximize N fixation. Triticale 40%, Oats 15%, Annual Ryegrass 2.5%, Austrian Winter Peas 30%, Crimson Clover 5%, Meadowfoam 2.5%, Balansa Clover 2.5% , Phacelia 2.5%.
Seed rate: 80-120 lb/ac.
Prices: 50-950lb $1.18/lb, 1000-1950lb $1.12/lb, >2000lb $1.06/lb
Like the above, with the addition of hairy vetch, this mix will be a net provider of plant available nitrogen. Hairy Vetch and Balansa Clover have both been reported to fix over 100lb of N per acre in pure stands. Blooms will be available to pollinators in spring for 6-8 weeks, depending on rainfall and management. Drill at ½ to 1” deep or broadcast and roll. Increase seed rate if broadcasting or if battling undesirable weeds. Terminate in late spring or early summer with cultivation or flail mow. Plant-available N is maximized when cereals are terminated before they enter the reproductive (“boot”) phase. Crimp or flail termination is most effective at cereal anthesis. Triticale 20%, Oats 5%, Annual Ryegrass 2%, Austrian Winter Peas 40%, Crimson Clover 9%, Meadowfoam 2%, Balansa Clover 4% , Phacelia 1%.
Seed Rate: 75-80lb/ac
Price: 50-950lb $1.60/lb, 1000lb-1950lb $1.52/lb, >1 ton $1.44/lb