This University of Vermont Extension publication highlights winter rye as a versatile and reliable cover crop. It covers rye's soil-protecting qualities, growth requirements, seeding rates, and nitrogen-scavenging ability. The publication also addresses rye's allelopathic effects on weeds and small-seeded crops, its use in grain-legume mixtures with hairy vetch or crimson clover, and its suitability for no-till systems and on-farm mulch production.