Low-flying planes seeding 3,000 acres of farmland in Warren, Hunterdon and Mercer counties
NEW JERSEY – Low-flying planes began seeding about 3,000 acres of farmland across northern and central New Jersey on Thursday as part of an annual effort to protect and improve soil during the winter months.
North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development, a local nonprofit focused on natural resource conservation, is coordinating the aerial seeding of a natural mix of winter rye, annual ryegrass and crimson clover on farms in Mercer, Hunterdon and Warren counties.
The cover crops will not be harvested. Instead, they are planted to keep living roots in the ground after corn and soybean harvests, helping reduce erosion and nutrient loss, improve soil fertility and protect waterways.
Ryegrass provides quick, dense coverage to help prevent erosion, while clover naturally adds nitrogen. In the spring, the remaining vegetation is expected to improve the soil’s organic matter and reduce weed pressure.
North Jersey RC&D has coordinated the aerial seeding program since 2013 with farmers, seed companies, aerial applicators and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Seeding by plane allows the cover crops to be planted before existing crops are harvested, providing additional time for them to become established.
“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 enroll in the program through the USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program months in advance, allowing seed to be purchased in bulk and aerial applicators to plan flight paths. Seeding requires calm conditions and ideally takes place when rain is in the forecast.
The 100% non-GMO seeds are expected to sprout in the coming weeks and provide a living cover over the soil through the winter.
Aerial seeding is planned in the following communities:
- Mercer County: Hopewell Township
- Hunterdon County: West Amwell, East Amwell, Raritan, Franklin and Holland townships
- Warren County: Greenwich, Liberty, Hope, Blairstown, Pohatcong, Mansfield, Franklin, Harmony and Washington townships
