Grainswest - Spring 2022

Winter 2022 grainswest.com 33 better prepare the next generation of adoptees. “Farmers need to know what these issues are so they can plan for what may happen,” said Morrison. “It also allows researchers and policymakers to try and find ways around these issues.” The survey was conducted between October 2020 and April 2021. In total, 281 farmers responded, representing 102,539 acres of cover cropped land across the western provinces. Of those who responded, 81 per cent observed benefits from growing cover crops and 54 per cent stated they’d seen improved soil health. Farmers who adopt cover crops do so for any number of reasons. According to the survey’s respondents, most hope to build soil health (80 per cent) and increase soil organic matter (76 per cent). A further 65 per cent said it is important to keep living roots in the soil to feed soil biology, and 57 per cent said they use cover crops to fix nitrogen. A number of farmers hope to address excess soil salinity (25 per cent) and better control pests and diseases (16 per cent). THE EARLY ADOPTERS Of the farmers who responded, Manitoba covered the most acres (46 per cent), followed by Saskatchewan (31 per cent) and Alberta (23 per cent). Most (82 per cent) had grown cover crops prior to the 2020 growing season and 36 per cent had grown them for three to five years. Farmers with livestock (62 per cent) made up the bulk of those surveyed (29 per cent had no livestock on the farm), and 56 per cent defined themselves as annual grain growers. The farms of respondents ranged in size from a few acres to more than 10,000, but most were between 1,000 and 1,999 acres. Only 25 per cent were certified organic on all or part of their farm, which dispels the myth that cover crops are a better fit for organic systems. Respondents also shared information on tillage practices. The survey found 33 per cent of farmers use no-till, while 48 per cent practice minimum or reduced tillage. Farmers who plant cover crops employ air seeders (49 per cent), seed drills (37 per cent) and broadcasters (26 per cent). Of the 281 respondents, just 20 per cent plant cover crops after fall harvest. Morrison said many farms establish their cover crops as an intercrop either at the same time as their cash crop (37 per cent) or broadcast the cover crop into their cash crop sometime during the growing season (14 per cent). Intercropping, he said, could be a solution that addresses the lack of fall moisture experienced in many parts of the Prairies. Regenerative agriculture consultant Scott Gillespie agrees intercropping is a practice in need of exploration. “Broadcast doesn’t really work well in the Prairies unless there’s a way for you to scratch it or work it in a little bit,” he said. “It’s just too dry to be reliable enough.” Based in southern Alberta, Gillespie helps conventional farmers move towards regenerative practices. He has developed an online cover crop course to answer some of the big questions around adoption. Gillespie suggested starting small with clear goals in mind. “You want to learn your equipment and labour and how things are going to work on your system,” he said. “You’re not trying to cover the entire farm; you’re looking for where they’re going to fit and have the best impact.” Labour, said Gillespie, can be an obstacle to adoption, as harvest is first priority in the fall. “It’s very hard to have somebody dedicated on a seeder following the harvester around,” he said. Mindset can also be a limiting factor, he added. “If people don’t see it as a priority, it’s going to be tough to get done.” SEED SOURCES AND GUIDANCE More than half of Prairie farmers purchase seed from businesses that specialize in the sale of cover crop seed. Stamp Seeds near Lethbridge is one such supplier. The seed company offers pedigreed seed, which includes 25-kilogram bags of mixed-species blends. With novice cover crop users, the first step is to talk through their goals, said Greg Stamp, certified crop adviser and head of seed sales. Some want to reduce soil erosion, while others are focused on building soil health. He said farmers come to him with all kinds of questions. This includes how best to terminate cover crops the following season. Stamp said the answer to this specific question will depend on a variety of factors, that include which crop will follow. “Broadcast doesn’t really work well in the Prairies unless there’s a way for you to scratch it or work it in a little bit.” —Scott Gillespie