Growers Visit Juniperdale Farm to View Cover Crops

Brian Fulmer of Juniper Dale Farm in Pen Argyl, PA told a group of local farmers his reasons for wanting to experiment with cover crops this year: To keep the soil in place, as well as to increase the nitrogen supply in his soil for sweet corn next year. “In other words,” he says, “the whole nine yards.”

Northampton County Cooperative Extension is taking part in an 11-county wide study of cover crops in Pennsylvania. They are using 15 different crops including: Aroostock Rye, Tillage Radish, Oats, Crimson Clover, Annual Ryegrass, Wheat, Triticale, Austrian Winter Pea, Hairy Vetch (Lancaster County), Hairy Vetch (Texas), Persian Clover, and Red Clover, as well as different combinations of the plants. The experiment looks at how well the different cover crops grow in local conditions and the most effective planting time.

Each plant has its own advantage. Winter pea is high in nitrogen. Rye has excellent nutrient uptake ability. Tillage radishes work as a “bio drill” (it breaks up the soil for your future crops). But they also have their disadvantages (some are very hard to control). After walking around the 15 different plots and discussing the soil and cost benefits of the different crops, the group of cover crop-curious farmers were left on their own to decide which cover would be the best for their own farms and soils.

Remember cover crops are an excellent way to stem soil erosion and depending on the crop you choose, can help enrich your soil with nutrients leading to healthier crops in the years to come.