The problems that Groff and Rodale institute are having appear to be directly related to the crimping ahead of the planter.

The gauge wheels.........using crimper method........would still be running on trash.........and they are having seed/soil contact problems.

We tried a couple of years ago the procedure of drilling into standing rye, but we did it when the ground was just too wet--------terrible closure issues.  (We had a custom driller do it, and he could only do our few acres at his convenience.......and then we in error chose some ground that had a tendency to be wet)

Even with bad emergence and weeds............we still got 25bu.

My theory is ----------- plant/drill into standing rye, wait a few days, then come in and sickle-bar cut the rye below the heads.......running perpendicular to the planter tracks.  Leave the cut rye about 1-2 ft tall............it should die within a few days, but should leave ample shade/allelotrophic affects (from the roots deteriorating) to keep weeds down.    And, maybe drill at 7.5, and get some benefits from the canopy of the beans themselves.  This should hopefully get as much mileage out of the live rye as possible, but still make it die before the soybean plant really needs the greater amount of nutrients and water.

Same as Groff/Rodale, but bypass the crimper hassle..........and keep the rye alive for a little longer.

I am concerned that the crimper ahead of the planter approach might not work really well in our soft soils...........have to go too deep in order to adequately crimp..........and therefore leave ruts or compacted spots............and crimping behind the planter would do same, including pushing beans way too deeply into the ground.  Cutting the rye seems to be a more sure thing.