Frost Concerns & Plant Diversity
CONNECTING FARMERS TO SOIL HEALTH
Hello, Friends.
With the upcoming forecast calling for frost, we wanted to touch on a few concerns farms have been having across Western Canada & provide you with some plant diversity options.
Manitoba Agriculture: Effect of Spring Frost on Emerging Crops Educational Document, click here.
10-year recap of previous late Spring frosts: May 30th, 2015 & June 6th, 2009
Farmer Question
WILL MY FULL-SEASON COVER BE AFFECTED by frost?
If not emerged: the crop will be fine. The soil will protect the germinated seeds. Recent heat & moisture will have made for ideal growing conditions.
If just cool-season plant species have emerged: the cool season plants with a below-ground growing point should withstand the frost. The warm season plants will still be protected by the soil. The crop should be fine.
Everything (both warm & cool season plants) emerged: although some species will be affected by frost (warm-season plants) the remaining cool-season plants will still have an appropriate balance of grasses, legumes & brassica to stimulate soil life. See picture.
2020 Full Season Cover consisting of only cool-season plants after frost. 7+ tonnes/acre silage crop was harvested.
Farmer Question
What are my later seeded forage options?
If frost has taken out an earlier seeded crop, C4 plants have evolved to accumulate high-energy bio-mass with less water than their C3 counterparts.
German Millet: Drought tolerant, C4 grass that will grow rapidly during hot summer conditions. Will make a windrow of leafy hay after approximately 60 days. Will not set seed for 90 days (no volunteer issues next year vs. proso or pearl millet) Learn More/Buy Seed
Sorghum Sudan: Drought tolerant, C4 grass offers a solution to producing forage when an emergency occurs. Sorghums are more efficient in water absorption because they have twice as many secondary roots per unit of the primary root as corn. Learn More/Buy Seed
Warm Season Cover Crop: Grow high-quality biomass in 50-60 days by using the photosynthetic power of C4 grasses & warm-season legumes. The blend offers drought tolerance, reduced input costs (fertilizer) & a balanced winter feed source. Learn More/Buy Seed
C4 plants are more water-efficient and drought-tolerant than C3 plants. C4s have a waxy leaf surface that reduces water evaporation from the leaf surface. Source: Government of Saskatchewan
German Millet Crop Taken As Forage in 2020. 7000 Ibs of dry matter/acre sown June 16th.
Warm Season Cover Blend of Waxy Leaf Surfaces to reduce leaf evaporation
Farmer Question
What are my later seeded cash crop options?
If frost has taken out an earlier seeded crop, the emerging Cover Crop market has stabilized demand for the following crops:
Buckwheat: flowers attract a large array of beneficial insects. Due to its non-mycorrhizal association, root exudates are very good at solubilizing insoluble phosphorus. Large leaves & rapid establishment are good for suppressing weeds. Current market price: $15-20/bu.
Proso Millet: short season, high yielding, low risk. Lower valued crop.
Sunflowers: drought tolerant, high-value seed, opportunity to intercrop
German Millet: longer season but higher valued crop. The residue (straw) is also a viable cattle feed option. Learn More/Buy Seed
Buckwheat crop in 2020 (Clearwater, Mb) that reached maturity (seed set) in 75 days.
German Millet crop in 2020 (Crystal City, Mb) that reached maturity (seed set) in 90 days.
***Due to these warm-season plant species always being in demand in emergency-type situations, we ask that you book your seed with us or a dealer as soon as possible.
"There is no soil amendment that will fix your soil. Only your understanding of how the soil functions will fix what ails your soil. You must become a student of what makes soil healthy. It’s that simple and there are no shortcuts.”
Jon Stika. A Soil Owners Manual
With Gratitude,
Covers & Co. Team
Joseph Gardiner, Travis Avery, Mark Fallis, Owen Taylor