Tests of Cover Crops Continue In The Northwest

One of the trademarks of no-till agriculture is the use of cover crops in dryland production.  However, despite several examples of success in the Midwest, some local growers seem reluctant to integrate cover crops.  Kay Meyer, Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association, told the Washington Ag Network Midwest no-till farmers have been able to save time and money.

“Success with soil health, completely reducing or eliminating their nutrient packages, the chemicals they have to put down because of the cover crops with the cover crops springing up, from lowering the soil profile and building of the organic matter, so the soil is healthy enough to have all of the nutrients that production crops need.”

To better understand how to best use cover crops, Meyer said they are running a three year experiment on their Colton area farm.  They are pulling their spring grain crop, which typically does not provide high yields.

“Replacing it with an 18 week cover crop mix, and grazing it with cattle, and seeing if we can over a three year period of time, have a better economic end with potentially being able to reduce the amount of chemicals and fertilizer that we need.”

Meyer said she says not only will this help reduce costs associated with their dryland crops, but they’ll also have cattle to market

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