Interseeding for Success: Timing, Equipment, and Species Selection

University of Idaho extension educator Steven Hines shares insights on maximizing cover crop benefits through strategic planning.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Before planting a cover crop, Hines emphasizes the importance of defining a clear management objective, whether it's improving soil health, reducing erosion, conserving moisture, or producing extra livestock forage. He recommends starting with 3-6 species, including a grass like triticale, a brassica like turnips or radishes, and an annual legume like peas. Hines also cautions against using certain species like hairy vetch and annual ryegrass, which can become weeds. Proper timing and equipment selection, such as using a drill for better seed-to-soil contact, are also crucial for successful interseeding.

Why it matters

Cover cropping can provide a range of benefits for farmers, but Hines emphasizes that a clear management objective is key to maximizing those benefits. By carefully selecting species, timing, and equipment, farmers can turn cover cropping into a valuable tool for improving soil health, reducing erosion, conserving moisture, and providing supplemental livestock forage.

The details

Hines has conducted extensive interseeding research, mostly in corn but also with cover crops. He suggests starting with a few key species like triticale, turnips or radishes, and peas, rather than planting a high-diversity mix. Hines cautions against using certain species like hairy vetch and annual ryegrass, which can become weeds. He also notes that perennial legumes like clover may not have enough time to establish and provide benefits in a short cover cropping window before the next cash crop. Proper equipment selection, such as using a drill for better seed-to-soil contact, is crucial for successful interseeding. Hines has also tested broadcasting seed and then using a grain drill to incorporate it, but this can lead to early-season weed issues.

  • Cover crops are typically planted in late July or early August after wheat and barley harvests.
  • Hines has found that even after termination, spraying, and disking, some hardy perennial species like clovers can still emerge the following spring, underscoring the importance of choosing species with termination in mind.

The players

Steven Hines

An extension educator with the University of Idaho in Jerome County who has conducted extensive interseeding research.

University of Idaho

The institution where Hines works as an extension educator and has carried out cover crop research.

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What they’re saying

“I always suggest they try it on a few acres first – most producers are willing to start small; they are not going to make big changes until they are sure it will work for them.”

— Steven Hines, Extension Educator (agproud.com)

“If you plant hairy vetch, add it to the deed to the farm because it will be there forever.”

— Steven Hines, Extension Educator (agproud.com)

What’s next

Hines suggests that farmers plan ahead for how and when they will terminate a cover crop, as some species like clovers can be very persistent and difficult to fully eliminate.

The takeaway

Successful cover cropping requires careful planning and execution, from defining clear management objectives to selecting the right species, timing, and equipment. By taking a strategic approach, farmers can maximize the benefits of cover crops for their operations.