Callum Morrison is a PhD scholar at the University of Manitoba. The Scottish-born doctorial student鈥檚 area of research concerns cover cropping in the Canadian Prairies.
鈥淚t is important to note that my survey isn鈥檛 to encourage cover cropping, but it is to help cover croppers and those thinking of cover cropping to make the best decisions,鈥� Morrison said, when he described the survey's intent.
Morrison explained that cover crops were crops grown whenever cash crops weren't seeded, such as during the autumn or throughout the entire season.
Cover cropping is capable of assisting the soil and the environment 鈥� this procedure could also contribute in refining succeeding crops.
鈥淎n example would be following a cereal crop with fall rye in late August/September to protect the soil in the fall, build soil heath, scavenge excess nitrogen and add organic carbon to the soil etc. It is very topical among farmers now,鈥� Morrison said.
鈥淐over crops have the potential to provide many environmental and economic benefits to a farm system 鈥� they do this by improving the soil chemical, physical and biological properties, which can have beneficial impacts on future crops. In some instances, cover crops can have a more direct economic return by being grazed by hungry cattle. Cover crops also increase diversity to our agricultural systems and in some cases are helping to reduce fertilizer and herbicide inputs.鈥�
According to Morrison, full season cover cropping is commonplace in fields wherever annual cash crop production occurs. Cover crops can enhance the soil, particularly in the areas of fields with poor salinity, thus assisting in improving production.
鈥淔ull season cover crops are popular with cattle farmers as can be grazed at the end of the season. This adds manure to the soil and provide farmer income,鈥� Morrison said.
Still, there are possible financial hazards for producers to consider before introducing cover crops.
鈥淚t is important when commenting on economics to first consider that cover crops like any crop have risks attached,鈥� Morrison further commented. 鈥淎 farmer should always think carefully about what cover crop would work with their system and with their climatic conditions.鈥�
Part of Morrison鈥檚 research involves conducting the Prairie Cover Crop Survey 鈥� a unique survey and the first of its kind with a directive intended to uncover data specific to the numbers of farmers using cover crops, as well as the distribution of cover crop farmers, the areas where cover crops are grown, the most popular cover crop species, as well as providing information about the cover crop agronomy in the Canadian Prairies.
Often, Western Canadian ag producers had little information to go on if they wanted to grow聽cover聽crops, so farmers in the past were looking towards to the U.S. for information. The survey was designed with the intent of gathering information specific to the farmers in the Canadian Prairies. So far, interest in the survey has grown, but more input from Saskatchewan's farmers is required.
鈥淟ast year was the very first year of the survey and we had many respondents (211) from all three provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta),鈥� Morrison said.
鈥淚n Saskatchewan, we received respondents from as far north as there is agriculture, right down to the US border. However, I would like to greatly increase the participation of Saskatchewan farmers in the 2020 survey. Ideally, I would like to see all of the municipalities represented in some way. I think it is very important to offer residents all regions of Saskatchewan the opportunity to be included and have their opinions and agronomy represented in this prairie-wide survey.鈥�
The ideal respondents for Morrison鈥檚 survey launched on October 1 is meant to include producers who grew cover crops, as well as the farmers who didn鈥檛 engage in this practice.
鈥淔or this 2020 survey, we are also looking for respondents who did not grow a cover crop.聽This would allow us to gage what goals people may have for using cover crops and any concerns they may have.鈥�
To either discover more about the Morrison鈥檚 Crop Cover Survey, which is conducted through the University of Manitoba, or to become directly involved,聽.听听
