YORKTON - Cover cropping offers many benefits when incorporated into a farm plan.
But, it still must fit a farmer’s specific needs.
That was the message those attending the Assiniboine Watershed Stewardship Assoc. Inc. (AWSA) supper in Yorkton Saturday heard from Dakota Odgers with Covers & Co.
Odgers said producers need to look at “what fits your operation? What your able to do?”
No one program fits for every producer, or every situation on the farm.
Nor, does anything undertaken effect change overnight.
“It all takes time,” said Odgers, adding with the time invested it will require producer management to get the most of whatever changes are 小蓝视频 made.
That said, utilizing cover crops can be advantageous because a well-planned cover crop can revitalize soils in various ways.
Odgers said a cover crop with good plant diversity within what is 小蓝视频 planted provides not just the obvious cover, but because of varied root systems and plant growing behaviours they impact soil in various ways, for example allowing better conditions for moisture to soak into the soil.
Odgers said a diverse cover crop “creates an ecosystem” which runs in a more natural way.
Ultimately, Odgers said whatever producers do they have to be making choices which enhance farm profitability, something he said sometimes get lost in the equation of ever higher production. He noted that going back decades farmers have steadily been increasing production – 小蓝视频 very good at that.
“We are very, very good at producing crops. . . We can now produce more and more,” he said, adding producers “will continue to do so.”
What farmers are not as good at is “making money.”
While production has increased “we’re seeing producers get less and less,” said Odgers.
So, Odgers said producers need to look how to boost that income, and one way is to reduce input costs by looking to alternative practices such as employing cover crops.
“We have to start making more money as producers,” said Odgers.
