Tight supply and strong demand are driving up the price of cover crop seed. Albert Lea Seed House owner Mac Ehrhardt says millet is in short supply in southern Minnesota. “The only millet we have left to sell now is proso millet. It’s probably the weakest of all of the millets in terms of forage production,” says Ehrhardt. “Most of the others are sold out. There still seems to be sundangrass, though it’s getting more expensive. Oats are also in tight supply. We’re having to go to Canada for seed, because bins are running out in the Dakotas.” If farmers in southern Minnesota are buying oats legally labeled, the cost will be about $10 to $12 a bushel. Ehrhardt says that’s extremely high. Albert Lea Seed House just raised the price of oats about $1.25 a bushel, a few days ago. Ehrhardt tells farmers if they are buying cover crop seed, make sure it’s from someone you trust and it’s properly labeled. Listen to the story.