MUNCIE, Ind. — Mike Shuter said the younger generation is the reason he is working to improve his soil health.

"My grandsons are going to want to farm someday. They are the reason I’m doing this," he told a group of 50 farmers who gathered on a cold, gray morning for the soil health workshop by Purdue University extension in Muncie.

Shuter Sunset Farms in Frankton has been using cover crops for six years. Since then, the soil’s organic matter has increased by 0.2 percent, Shuter said. "If we destroy the soil, we destroy the nation. I believe that. Maintaining the soil is part of maintaining the nation," he said in his introduction to a seeding methods talk.

He chooses to seed his cover crops between Aug. 15-Sept. 15 into his standing produce, and kills those cover crops by late spring. "The last two falls it’s been harder to get the cover crops established because of weather," Shuter said.

He plants his corn in strip-till and beans in no-till rows 15 inches wide. Some springs, he said planting is like "farming in the jungle," particularly if he is late in killing his cover crops. Shuter showed a picture of seeding beans into mature cereal rye.

"There’s a lot of concern about what if the cover crops get away from you. Sometimes it takes a few more guts than we have. These were 3 feet tall, which can work if your planter’s set up for it," he said. The cover crops were sprayed later that day.

Shuter also said he is planning a year ahead on his rotations of cover so he uses the right chemicals now. Likewise, Paul Russell, owner of Russell Sheep Co. in Eaton, said experimentation is needed when planting cover crops.

"The biggest challenge is what to plant, and what are you trying to accomplish? There is also no guideline on seeding rate. Experiment with it and ask questions of your seed supplier," Russell advised. He considers his soil a "vital gift."

"We understand that our soil’s a living structure, a vital gift on our farm. We gauge our soil health by the fence line, which has never been farmed. That’s how our progress is measured."

In turning some of his pasture into cropland, he said its organic matter is high because it’s never been farmed before. "Our job is not to destroy it," he explained.

Russell had trouble last fall getting his cover crops out and suggested aerial application in those cases would help. "We learned last year that weather can play with your plans for going in a timely manner."

However, he said his soybeans "planted great" and were the best ever, with nonexistent weeds because of the cereal rye keeping them in check.

As both Shuter and Russell described, getting cover crops planted in a timely manner can be difficult. Dave Myers of Maximum Farming, a nutrient management company in New Ross, described some of the benefits of aerial seeding.

"Getting cover crops out early is important. With aerial we can do that," Myers said. Some cover needs to be planted earlier than others and established before the first freeze.

"We can also cover more acres ... With one plane, we can plant up to 1,500 acres per day," he added.

If the cover crops are to be used for grazing animals, getting them established early is even more important, he said. One of the challenges of aerial seeding is finding a good pilot who is experienced and accurate.

"He needs to understand the impact of a 2-mile-per-hour wind versus an 8-mile-per-hour wind and the effect of different weights of seeds," Myers said. "Aerial seeding is not perfect. Streaking can be an issue with lighter cover crop seeds ... A lot of guys are more concerned with cover crop stand than corn. Which makes money?"

When scheduling aerial seeding near suburban areas, contact local law enforcement and elected officials to let them know your plans and use discretion in congested areas. "Early seeding makes the difference. Use aerial seeding," Myers concluded.