Camelina: Investigating Cover Crop Options Before Corn

Project Overview

ONC26-182
Project Type: Partnership
Funds awarded in 2026: $37,521.00
Projected End Date: 09/01/2028
Grant Recipient: Michigan
Region: North Central
State: Michigan
Project Coordinator:
Madelyn Celovsky
Email
Michigan

Commodities

No commodities identified

Practices

No practices identified

Proposal abstract:

Most of Michigan farm acres are managed in a corn-soybean rotation (2022 Agricultural Census). Options for overwintering cover crops following corn and soybean (or just soybean) are limited. Farmers who plant cover crops tend to plant single-species grass cover crops, like cereal rye, establishing quickly late in the fall and reliably overwinter. However, research and farmer experience throughout Michigan have found planting corn following cereal rye can reduce corn yield or increase risk for disease (Kaspar et al., 2013).

To expand the feasibility of cover crops, it is crucial to find other options for late fall planting. Michigan farmers have also repeatedly voiced a need for late-planted cover crop options outside of the grass family to avoid common issues seen with cereal rye. Camelina, an oilseed in the Brassica family, has the potential to accomplish this need as it can offer breaks from additional legumes/grasses in the rotation which can facilitate crop pests/diseases. Research in the Great Lakes/Upper Midwest region (SARE Projects: LNC13-352 (Iowa), ONC25-164 (Wisconsin)) has highlighted opportunities with camelina as a cover crop before corn. Building on these early findings, we hope to provide insight on seeding dates and best practices for camelina cover crops across Michigan.

Project objectives from proposal:

This project will determine best practices and seeding dates for a camelina cover crop before corn to facilitate more successful cover crop implementation in corn-soybean cropping systems across Michigan's diverse eco-regions.

Research Objectives

  • Conduct eight on-farm trials investigating camelina's impact on spring soil nitrate and corn yield
  • Conduct six research station trials investigating planting dates for camelina across Michigan
  • Co-produce management recommendations for cover crops before corn with all partners

Outreach Objectives

  • Hold four spring camelina plot tours
  • Produce one video summary
  • Publish a factsheet summary
  • Publish a growing guide for using camelina as a cover crop
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.