Agreement Number
NR20-13G021
Awardee Name
North Jersey RC&D
Grant Type
On-Farm Trials
On-Farm Trials-Soil Health Demonstration Trial
Project Title
Cover Crops: Demonstrating Full Value
Awardee State/Territory
New Jersey
Involved States/territories
New Jersey
Award Year
2019
Start Date
End Date
Award Amount
$933,970.00
Production/Use
Animal Agriculture and Husbandry
Farmland Agricultural
Resource Concern (Broad)
Soil
Water
Resource Concern (Specific)
Manure management
Organic matter depletion
Soil Health
Water Quality
Conservation Practice(s)
Cover Crop
Project Background
North Jersey RC&D (NJRCD) proposes a soil health demonstration that compares typical
northeastern US cover crop termination practice (termination in early to mid- spring, using
herbicide, weeks before planting) against innovative methods of delaying cover crop termination
and cash crop planting. These innovative methods include planting into (1) a green living cover
crop, (2) a mature cover crop terminated using a roller crimper and (3) a cover crop intensively
grazed by livestock. These strategies maximize soil cover, biodiversity, and the presence of
living roots in annual crop systems, ultimately increasing the agronomic and economic value of
cover crop to agricultural producers.
Using a paired study design, three treatments (aforementioned cover crop termination methods)
will be compared against a control (existing termination practices) on 25 farms (4000 acres total
of northern New Jersey cropland). Using a combination of soil samples and field assessments,
farm data, and farmer interviews, NJRCD and partners will compare environmental, economic,
and social impacts of treatments. By identifying, documenting, and evaluating regionally
successful cover crop termination approaches, this proposal will help farmers realize the full
benefits of Cover Crops thereby stimulating additional soil health system adoption.
northeastern US cover crop termination practice (termination in early to mid- spring, using
herbicide, weeks before planting) against innovative methods of delaying cover crop termination
and cash crop planting. These innovative methods include planting into (1) a green living cover
crop, (2) a mature cover crop terminated using a roller crimper and (3) a cover crop intensively
grazed by livestock. These strategies maximize soil cover, biodiversity, and the presence of
living roots in annual crop systems, ultimately increasing the agronomic and economic value of
cover crop to agricultural producers.
Using a paired study design, three treatments (aforementioned cover crop termination methods)
will be compared against a control (existing termination practices) on 25 farms (4000 acres total
of northern New Jersey cropland). Using a combination of soil samples and field assessments,
farm data, and farmer interviews, NJRCD and partners will compare environmental, economic,
and social impacts of treatments. By identifying, documenting, and evaluating regionally
successful cover crop termination approaches, this proposal will help farmers realize the full
benefits of Cover Crops thereby stimulating additional soil health system adoption.
Project Scale
Multi-farm
Project targeted to Historically Underserved producers?
No