Cover Crops Take off Across New Jersey

Planes to Blanket 4,200 acres of NJ Farmland with Cover Crops

A plane drops seed over a cornfield to establish a cover crop, a conservation practice that improves soil health and reduces runoff.

Beginning September 2nd, low-flying planes will begin seeding 4,200 acres of cropland across northern and central New Jersey farms with a natural mix of winter rye, annual ryegrass and crimson clover. These cover crops, rather than being harvested, will protect and enrich the soil through the winter. 

On many corn and soybean farms, fields sit bare for 5–7 months after harvest, leaving soil vulnerable to erosion and nutrient loss. Cover crops keep living roots in the ground, reducing runoff, improving fertility, and protecting waterways. Ryegrass provides quick, dense coverage to prevent erosion, while clover naturally adds nitrogen. In the spring, the remaining vegetation will improve the soil’s organic matter and reduce weed pressure. 

Since 2013, North Jersey RC&D (NJRCD), a local non-profit dedicated to meeting community needs through natural resource conservation, has coordinated the aerial seeding program with farmers, seed companies, aerial applicators, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Seeding by plane allows planting before crops are harvested, giving cover crops extra weeks to establish. The program is supported by farmers and the USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). “Planting from the air is efficient, timely, and eases the workload on farmers,” said Laura Tessieri, NJRCD Executive Director. “It builds healthy soils and protects water quality.”

Farmers sign up for the program through NRCS-EQIP months in advance, allowing NJRCD to purchase seeds in bulk and aerial applicators to efficiently plan flight paths. Seeding requires calm days, and ideally with rain in the forecast. “It’s rewarding to be part of this program,” said local farmer, Scott Clucas. “The aerial seeding gets cover crops in the ground early so the soil stays protected all winter. It’s good for our fields, good for the waterways, and good for our next crop.”

Seedings will occur up until September 15th, weather permitting, using 100% non-GMO seed. The seeds should sprout in the coming weeks leading to a living blanket that protects and enriches the soil through the winter months ahead.

Aerial seeding will occur in the following Townships:

Warren County: Blairstown, Franklin, Greenwich , Harmony, Hope, Liberty, Mansfield, Pohatcong, Washington, and White

Hunterdon County: Alexandria, Bethlehem, Clinton, Delaware Township, East Amwell, Franklin, Holland, Kingwood, Lebanon, Raritan, Tewksbury, and West Amwell

Mercer County: Hopewell and Pennington

Morris County: Washington

Learn more at www.northjerseyrcd.org or call (908) 574-5368.

Find the flyer here. Please feel free to distribute!