Category Archives: Resources

OSU Cover Crop Topic Page

View resource: https://forages.oregonstate.edu/oregon/topics/cover-crops 

The OSU Forage Information System project draws on Oregon Extension and research faculty with assignments in the areas of forage and livestock systems to develop an integrated information resource to support forage and livestock system operators, public land managers, and those who advise and support these entities with 24-7 access to accurate, science-based, practical information.

This resource focuses on cover crops and their use in forage production rotations. … Read the rest

Estimated Costs for a winter cover crop in an annual crop rotation

View the full link here: https://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/uploads/pub/2022/09/28/2022covercropsbenefits.pdf

This cost study models the planting and management of a winter cover crop in a summer crop rotation planted in the lower Sacramento Valley of California. The rotation may include processing tomatoes, corn, sunflower, safflower, sorghum, and/or dry beans, as well as other summer annual crops. This study models a field following harvest of processing tomatoes in the fall and a planned rotation into a spring planted field crop.

The most commonly grown cover crop species are selected from three plant families: Leguminosae (such as bell beans, peas, clover, and vetch), Brassicaceae (such as … Read the rest

Equipment to manage Cover Crops in Annual Rotations

View the newsletter here: https://cesutter.ucanr.edu/newsletters/Agronomy_Notes86733.pdf.

One of the challenges with incorporating cover crops into annual rotations is uncertainty about which equipment can be used to manage them, specifically around cover crop termination. Last year UCCE Farm Advisors Sarah Light and Amber Vinchesi-Vahl hosted an equipment showcase field day specifically for cover crop management. One of the presenters was Brian Park from Park Farming Organics. Brian has been managing cover crops for many years and shared some of his experience with the equipment they use. In this article we share photos and descriptions of some of that equipment for those … Read the rest

Ecosystem Services and Cash Crop Tradeoffs of Summer Cover Crops in Northern Region Organic Vegetable Rotations

Read the full article here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2021.635955/full

Authors:

Vivian M. Wauters1, Julie M. Grossman2*, Anne Pfeiffer3 and Rodrigo Cala4

  • 1Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
  • 2Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United States
  • 3Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, United States
  • 4Cala Farms, LLC, Turtle Lake, WI, United States

Abstract: Intensive production practices characterizing vegetable farming contribute to high productivity, but often at the expense of supporting and regulating ecosystem services. Diversification with cover crops may … Read the rest

USDA NRCS Evaluation of Spring Seeded Cover Crops in Colorado, Montana and North Dakota

Read the report here.

Link: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/natpmtn13647.pdf

Plant Materials Centers in Bridger, MT, Bismarck, ND and the Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center, Meeker, CO conducted a 2-year evaluation of over 50 commercially available varieties of black oats, black seeded oats, cereal rye, crimson clover, daikon radish, hairy vetch, red clover, and winter/field pea to assess their adaptation and performance as spring seeded cover crops. Information from the study will assist conservation planners and farmers in selecting varieties to meet the cover crop objectives of their production systems.… Read the rest

USDA NRCS Evaluation of Cool Season Cover Crops in the Southwest Region

Read the report here.

Link: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/natpmtn13595.pdf

Plant Materials Centers (PMCs) in Tucson, AZ, Lockeford, CA, Meeker CO, Los Lunas, NM and Fallon, NV conducted a 2-year evaluation of 56 commercially available varieties of black oats, black seeded oats, cereal rye, crimson clover, daikon radish, hairy vetch, red clover, and winter/field pea to assess their adaptation and performance as cover crops in the Southwest PMC region. Information from the study will assist conservation planners and farmers in selecting varieties to meet the cover crop objectives of their production systems.… Read the rest

USDA NRCS Evaluation of Cool Season Cover Crops in the Northwest

Read the report here.

Link: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/natpmtn13594.pdf

Plant Materials Centers (PMCs) in Aberdeen, ID, Corvallis, OR, and Pullman, WA conducted a 2-year evaluation of 56 commercially available varieties of cereal rye, hairy vetch, crimson clover, red clover, winter/field pea, black oats, black seeded oats, and daikon radish to assess their adaptation and performance as cover crops in the North Central PMC region. Information from the study will assist conservation planners and farmers in selecting varieties to meet the cover crop objectives of their production systems.… Read the rest

Cover Crop Performance and Adaptation Trials at NRCS Plant Materials Centers

Link: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/plantmaterials/technical/publications/?cid=nrcseprd1610414

The information from this resource contains reports and technical information related to the performance and adaptation of cover crops in different part of the Unites States.

Farmers rely on the latest crop variety trials to make informed decisions on planting the best adapted crop variety to maximize yield given their soils and production practices.  With the ever-growing interest in planting cover crops, the NRCS Plant Materials Centers initiated studies to better characterize performance and adaptation of commercially available cover crop varieties.  Choosing the most appropriate cover crop varieties, like choosing the best crop varieties, will ultimately assist farmers … Read the rest