On-Farm Research & Cover Cropping

At the 2004 PASA conference, several attendants with an interest in cover crops were surveyed to narrow this broad topic to specific areas of interest. Responses showed many were interested in learning more about how to use cover crops to improve soil fertility and weed control. The biggest challenge on most farms is establishing good weed competitive stands of cover crops.
In spring and summer 2004, Ron Hoover, Penn State On-Farm Research Coordinator and I conducted farm visits of those interested in participating in the research. These visits were a time to share more information and ideas of potential projects. In the fall of 2004, two research trials were initiated - both using cereal rye as a cover crop or a component of a cover crop mixture.
Rye is one of the most frequently grown cover crops. It establishes quickly, even when planted late into the fall, and develops a dense root system that holds soil in the field, gathers nutrients from the soil profile making them available to succeeding crops and provides competition with unwanted weeds.

Although rye does little to increase nitrogen fertility, it is often grown in combination with a legume (clover and hairy vetch are the most common) to add nitrogen to the soil. Rye is also good at taking up residual nitrogen from the previous cash crop and preventing it from leaching.

In March 2005, PASA was awarded a $9,859 grant from the USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE). The purpose of the grant is to increase farmers' knowledge of cover cropping and challenge them to manage these crops more intensively. Improved management of cover crops can result in large impacts on weed population dynamics, soil quality, yield of cash crops and ultimately farm sustainability. Through on-farm research, this project will address questions concerning improved production and profitability when cover crops are used in specific situations.

PASA's Farm-Based Research Program will be working in partnership with the Pennsylvania State University's On-Farm Research Program to conduct this on-farm research. The proposal entitled Increased Use of Cover Crops in Field and Vegetable Crop Rotations through Farmer Directed On-Farm Research and Outreach Opportunities was one of 18 chosen from 37 proposals submitted.
A total of 4-5 cooperating farmers in Pennsylvania have been identified who are interested in further developing their knowledge of cover crops and sharing those findings with other producers. These projects will be designed to conduct on-farm research that will address questions concerning improved production and profitability when cover crops are used in specific situations.

While many producers incorporate cover crops into production systems, there is still important education to be done concerning the management of these valuable crops. Some areas for improving cover crop management include increasing seeding rates, optimizing the time of seeding and selecting better performing species, especially legumes. Through education of these farmers on proper cover crop management, they will become a positive example for other producers in the region.

These on-farm trials will be followed through the end of the 2008 growing season.

Cover Crop Research Trial Locations:

John & Aimee Good
Quiet Creek Farm
Kutztown, PA

Robert Keller
Penn Valley Farms
Lititz, PA

Steve Misera
Misera's Organic Farm
Butler, PA

John & Linda Shenk
Shenk's Berry Farm
www.shenkberryfarm.com
Lititz, PA

To find out more on using cereal rye as a cover crop, visit http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/rye.html