Through the support of several partners, Ausable Bayfield Conservation has been able to offer farmers in the Main Bayfield watershed an enhanced cover crop funding program. With this boost in funding, the goal is to not only have more acres covered throughout the winter and spring, but also to provide more opportunity for farmers to try cover crops in their rotation.
In addition, a demonstration project just outside of Clinton, Ontario, is looking at cover crops and whether 60-inch corn rows can help establish a cover crop better than 30-inch rows. Wider corn rows can increase light penetration to the ground to improve cover crop establishment, but the impact on corn yield or the following bean yield is not known. Twin rows of 60-inch corn were planted in early May, and the cover crop mix was drilled in at the V4 stage in early June. Corn yield, cover crop biomass production and soil health indicators will be monitored this fall, with monitoring continuing into 2021.
Nearest city or town: Clinton, Ontario
Project start date: May 1, 2020
Project focus: Combination of Education, Restoration, and Monitoring
Project contact: Hope Brock