Using Manually Operated Seeders for Precision Cover Crop Plantings on the Small Farm

Growing good cover crops begins with planting the seed uniformly and at the right rate and depth to ensure a good stand. This can be especially challenging for small-scale farms that do not have access to tractor-drawn grain drills, which can cost $6,000 to 8,000 for a 4-foot to 6-foot-wide drill. This Virginia Association for Biological Farming information sheet describes research on using inexpensive (under $100), manually operated seeders to establish consistent cover crop stands.

Want more information? See the related SARE grant(s) LS03-149, Enhancing Sustainability of Organic Broccoli Production through Integration of No-Tillage and Farmscaping, and ES06-085, Sustainable Organic No-Till Systems: A Training Program for CES and NRCS Field Professionals.