Coordinating agronomist: Isabelle Dubé, Emmanuelle Robertson
Organization: Groupe PleineTerre inc.
Practice: Cover crops
Barrier: The lack of regional data on the latest viable planting dates for cover crops makes it difficult to develop reliable recommendations for farmers. In corn–soybean–cereal rotations, the very short planting window after harvest limits the adoption of cover crops and there is uncertainty about the agronomic and economic benefits.
Description: These trials compare standard and late fall planting dates to evaluate cover crop establishment. Trials include
Fall rye (160 kg/ha) drilled after spring cereals on September 15, October 1, and October 15;
Oats (50 kg/ha) and radish (4 kg/ha) drone-seeded into soybeans at R6 and R7; and
Fall rye (160 kg/ha) seeded after corn silage on October 15 and 25.
Cover crop performance will be evaluated in late fall, including ground cover and biomass, and a partial-budget analysis completed.