The Natural Resources Conservation Service of California held another cover crop field day to show producers that summer cover crops are possible. NRCS says the practice reduces soil erosion, increases water infiltration, helps with weed suppression, enhances nutrient cycling, reduces soil compaction, and improves water holding capacity.
Tom Johnson, with Kamprath Seed Company, has been partnering with the NRCS Lockeford Plant Materials Center to find the most compatible cover crops for California. Johnson said the practice can absolutely be done during summer months if growers can identify those ‘windows of opportunity’.