Sonja Brodt, UCANR
This project is creating an online searchable database of best management practices as implemented in California’s southern Sacramento Valley and North Coast regions, by orchard and vineyard growers experienced in cover cropping. The project will also provide detailed case studies of grower cover cropping strategies, organize field tours of successful cover cropping operations, and link to information on the latest cover crops research.… Read the rest
In the Sacramento Valley area? Take a tour and visit cover crop plots to see for yourself what the varieties look like in the field. To learn more check out the newsletter: https://cesutter.ucanr.edu/newsletters/Agronomy_Notes88518.pdf… Read the rest
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
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
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
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
Link: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/orpmctn13328.pdf
This list of cover crop seed vendors was updated in 2018 by the NRCS West National Technology Support Center and Plant Materials Program.… Read the rest
Doug Collins, Extensions Specialist, Washington State University
On-Farm Cover Crop Use, Evaluation, and Data Sharing with the Western Cover Crop Council. This project supports on-farm cover crop demonstrations in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Demonstrations will show how cover crop variety and management practices affect specific management goals. We are developing simple and systematic cover crop evaluation criteria for farmers. Evaluation criteria will assist in information sharing and be applied to on-farm demonstrations to effectively collate results. Funded by WSARE Research to Grassroots.
Amélie Gaudin, Associate Professor of Agroecology, Department of Plant Sciences
This research explores how biodiversity and animal re-integration through grazing cover crops impacts soil ecosystems and functions in vineyards. We are specifically interested in how sheep grazing impacts understory plant community productivity and species composition and how these interactions alter soil functions such as the formation and turnover of soil organic carbon and nutrients. Funded by CDFA
Contact: Kelsey Brewer, PhD candidate (kmbrewer@ucdavis.edu)