Technical Abstract: Cone planters (CP) uniformly distribute seed over research plots, however, preparing seed for CP by weighing is time-consuming. This study evaluated the effect of seed preparation method (scooping with a calibrated cup versus weighing) on population density of monoculture cover crops planted at several seeding rates with a CP. The effect of scooping on the composition of pre-made cover crop mixtures was also evaluated. Monocultures included mustard (Brassica juncea L.), rye (Secale cereale L.), common vetch (V. sativa L.), and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) planted at 1x, 2x and 4x rates where 1x rates in pure live seed m-2 were 24 (faba bean), 43 (vetch), 291 (rye) and 310 (mustard). Mixtures contained rye, oat (Avena sativa L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), faba bean, vetch, or pea (Pisum sativum L.), and by seed weight included: Mix 1 (10% rye, 90% faba bean), Mix 2 (10% oat, 90% faba bean), Mix 3 (10% barley, 90% faba bean), Mix 3 (10% vetch, 90% rye), and Mix 5 (10% rye, 25% pea, 30% vetch, 35% faba bean). Seed preparation method did not affect the population densities of the monocultures at any seeding rate. However, seed segregation occurred while scooping some pre-made mixtures from a bucket whereby the proportions of smaller seeded components increased with scooping depth. Therefore scooping is a fast and accurate method (±1%) to prepare monocultures and mixture components, however, scooping pre-made mixtures can be problematic with some pre-made mixtures. Simple methods to detect segregation in pre-made mixtures are discussed.