What is a Cover Crop and Why do Farmers Plant Them?

This article was written for our soybean export buyers by the Sevita International Export Team. For grower-related questions, please contact your local Sevita representative.

Cover crops are crops that are planted following the harvest of a production crop (such as soybeans or wheat). Cover crops are not typically grown for profit or harvested for commercial use. They play an important role in maintaining soil health and productivity. 

What Benefits do Cover Crops Provide?

Soil Health 

• Soil Nutrients 
  • Cultivating (plowing) a cover crop into the soil adds significant amounts of carbon (organic matter) to the soil. This catches important crop nutrients like nitrogen and potassium from the cover crop into the soil for the next season's crop to use.
  • This helps farmers reduce the amount of fertilizer needed to produce a high-yielding crop. 
• Microorganisms
  • The added carbon (organic matter) helps to feed the microorganisms in the soil.
  • By adding different cover crop types into a field, farmers can improve the biological diversity in the soil.
  • Certain microorganisms are beneficial for future crops and can be predatory to harmful pest species. This helps farmers reduce the amount of pesticides (insecticides, fungicides) needed to protect their crops. 
• Soil Structure
  • Organic matter is an important component of building soil structure. A well-structured soil has higher water holding capacity - improving the water available to the next crop. Under the ground, the roots of a cover crop have enormous benefits as well. When the roots die off they leave air pockets in the soil which helps the aeration of the soil. Crops need both water and oxygen in the soil to produce maximum yields.
  • Deep-rooted cover crops may also break through compacted soils. 
• Soil Erosion
  • By keeping the soil covered during the "off-season" farmers decrease soil erosion.
  • Root structures of the cover crop prevent soil from blowing away with the wind or washing away in periods of excess moisture. 

Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach to weed, insect, and disease management that uses all available control strategies to manage pest populations and reduce economic losses(Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 2017). Planting cover crops is one of the main components of IPM and creates a cropping system that is more resilient to failures and does not exclusively rely on pesticides to control pests and weeds.

When fields are left empty in-between crops, they can be susceptible to excessive weed issues. By implementing cover cropping practices, farmers can limit the amount of herbicides needed. Cover crops can also slow and prevent the spread of soil-born pests such as Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN). 

The photo shows red clover planted into winter wheat stubble. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 2021.

What Kind of Cover Crops are Used in Canada?

The crop type farmers choose to use depends on their specific farm’s situation, such as their crop rotation schedule, field characteristics, or pest challenges. The most common cover crop currently being used is red clover. This is planted in the spring and continues to grow following the harvest of a winter cereal crop (such as wheat). Other examples of cover crops include forage peas, oats, rye, oilseed radish, or a combination of multiple plant types.

How do Cover Crops Impact Food-Grade (Identity Preserved) Soybean Production?

Cover crops increase soil health, improving overall plant health and productivity in future production seasons. Healthier soils and IPM strategies result in fewer pesticides being needed in IP production.
Soybeans produced on healthy soils generally provide higher yields and greater profitability for the farmer. 

Does Sevita Have Any Rules or Guidelines Surrounding Cover Crops?

Sevita encourages our growers to follow sustainable agriculture practices. Sustainable agriculture means managing soils with long-term goals and objectives in mind. Sustainable land practices are essential in the continued quality growth of IP beans to meet consumer demand. Cover crops are one of the many tools Canadian farmers are using to ensure their farming practices are sustainable for years to come. 

Currently, Sevita does not have any rules or guidelines for cover crops. Farmers are encouraged to implement practices that are best for their farms and the environment. There is little concern over contamination of IP beans with the cover crop. 

For additional information or questions, please contact the Sevita Export team