- This event has passed.
USDA: COOL SEASON COVER CROPS FIELD DAY
March 21, 2019 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Date: Thursday, March 21st, 2019
Time: 2:00 – 4:00pm
Venue: Lockeford Plant Materials Center, 21001 N. Elliot Rd, Lockeford, CA 95237
Cost: Free, all are welcome. Registration suggested but not required.
Credits: 1.5 CE hours CCA – Soil and Water Management applied for
Agenda:
2:00 – Margaret Smither-Kopperl, PMC Manager – Welcome
2:10 – Tom Johnson, Kamprath Seed – Cover Crop Selection for the Central Valley : Demonstration Planting.
2:30 – Valerie Bullard, PMC Agronomist – Legume Cover Crop Cultivars
2:50 – Jinguo Hu, ARS Pullman – Fava and Bell bean germplasm
3:00 – Hossein Zakeri CSU, Chico – Fava bean research status
3:10 – Jessa Kay Cruz, Xerces Society – Insectary Cover Crops for orchards and vineyards
3:35 – Hudson Minshew, NRCS State Agronomist – Cover Crops, Nutrient Management and NRCS Programs
3:55 – Margaret Smither-Kopperl – Conclusions and Questions
Description: Cover Crops provide numerous benefits including: nitrogen accumulation and retention, enhanced nutrient cycling as microbial populations increase, weed suppression and pollinator and beneficial insect habitat. Use of cover crops over time will increase soil organic matter and improve soil health, increase rainfall infiltration and soil water holding capacity, reduce soil compaction and erosion. Economic benefits can include a reduction in inputs of fertilizer, pesticides and number of irrigations required. Field Day participants will get a close look at ongoing studies.
• Cover crop demonstration with individual species plots.
• Crimson clover, winter pea and hairy vetch trial (germplasm USDA ARS Legume Cover Crop Breeding -Advanced Lines Testing Program)
• Bell/fava bean trial (germplasm provided by USDA ARS Pullman)
• Insectary Cover Crop mixes for orchards and vineyards (Xerces Soc.).
Registration: An email is appreciated if you plan to attend. Contact Shawn.Vue@ca.usda.gov, Tel: 209.867.3110 or Margaret.Smither-Kopperl@ca.usda.gov for more information or to arrange for any special needs. Event flyer can be found here.