Coordinating agronomist: Serena Black
Organization: BC Forage Council
Practice: Cover crops
Trial started: Fall 2025
Barrier: There is a lack of data on the use and management of cover crops, their impacts on subsequent crop performance, and the economic costs and returns on investment for this practice.
Description: Fall-seeded cover crop mixtures were planted following annual forage crop harvest as part of preparing a field for rejuvenation back to perennial forages in a typical B.C. mixed farming rotation with limited irrigation. The trial compares two varieties of a single-species cover (e.g. common and hybrid fall rye) to a more diverse cover crop mixture (e.g. each variety of fall rye with Austrian winter peas). Cover crop establishment, biomass, soil health, forage quality, and subsequent crop performance will be measured, and then an economic analysis will be conducted.