Cover crops are widely seen as a beneficial practice, with effects like improved soil health, weed management and erosion protection. They also require a little planning and knowledge to be successful.

Kris McNaughton is a research technician at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus. She discusses the importance of forethought: termination of a cover crop, the crops that preceded and will follow in that field, and how herbicide use can affect the cover crop.

Yvonne Lawley, a professor in the plant science department at the University of Manitoba, and Callum Morrison, a University of Manitoba PhD student, discuss a cover crop survey they conducted in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in 2019 and the importance of considering the realities of your farm when deciding on cover crops.

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Show notes

• "What to consider when looking at cover crops," a webinar from April 2020 led by Anne Verhallen, OMAFRA horticultural soil management specialist.
• OMAFRA Publication 75A, Guide to Weed Control: Field Crops
• Midwest Cover Crop Council
• Cover crop selector tool
• Midwest Cover Crops Field Guide (and the mobile app version)
• Managing Cover Crops Profitably, published by the USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) website for cover crops and and soil health
• North Dakota State University (NDSU) soil health website
• Soil Sense podcast
• Abbey Wick on Twitter: @NDSUsoilhealth
• On Twitter:
• @YvonneLawley_UM
• @CallumMorrisons
• @Anne_Verhallen
• @drobinridgetown