Plant Diversity Co.
Full season Cover
The Insurance Policy with Mother Nature Blend
A blend of warm & cool-season plant species provides an insurance policy with Mother Nature. The result is a high-yielding, high-quality livestock feed - all while improving soil health & reducing input costs.
To learn more about the benefits of having C4 plants & C3 plants in the blend, click here.
Dark Blue: Cool Season Plants Light Blue: Warm Season Plants
Full Season Cover
plant Species in blend
Our most popular blend. Lower input costs, provide a balanced feed ration & improve soil resiliency with this blend of warm & cool season plants. Regrowth.
Seeding Rate: 60 Ibs/acre SKU: 2000 Ib Tote
Seed Tag: Click here
Inoculant Required: Learn More
FCC Financing is available for 2024-2025 seed purchases.
Full SEASON COVER
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
See below for the most frequently asked questions regarding the Full Season Cover.
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If applying Nitrogen fertilizer, keep below 40 Ibs/acre actual.
A multi-species rhizobium inoculant is required. (NDURE)Important To Note: Excess nitrogen fertilizer will inhibit legumes from establishing a relationship with rhizobium bacteria. This relationship needs to be established for later season vegetation and growth.
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To maximize plant diversity, delaying seeding until end of May (or soil temperature between 6-10 degrees C) is recommended to ensure a diverse stand.
Seed the Full Season Cover at a seeding depth of 3/4 inch - 1 inch -
The Full Season Cover will reach full biomass potential about 60 days after germination. Due to plant diversity and indeterminate species, the window for silage is much wider than a monocrop forage. Please refer to our Silage/Dry Hay protocol on this page for more details.
Cut Early: Less biomass, more regrowth, higher protein.
Cut Later: More biomass, less regrowth, lower protein.
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Expect a balanced feed ration of energy & protein due to high energy cereals & high protein legumes.
Range depends on harvest timing.
Protein: 11.0-16.0
TDN: 60-65
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Yes. You can expect 7-10 days dry down time. Feed quality & palatability will be slightly lower than silage.
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Plant species in the Full Season Cover have been selected to maximize regrowth potential for late fall grazing - a balanced, diverse cattle feed (energy + protein).
High Precip: Expect Cool Season plants to compose the majority of regrowth biomass.
Low Precip: Expect Warm Season Plants to compose the majority of regrowth biomass.
If you want more re-growth, cut early. If you want more winter forage with less grazing, cut later.
The Agronomy
A blend of C4 & C3 Plant species
If hot/dry conditions are present, warm-season plant species will accumulate biomass. If cool/wet conditions are present, cool-season plant species will accumulate biomass. Why?
Warm Season Plants (C4) evolved in hot/dry environments.
Cool Season Plants (C3) evolved in cool/wet environments.
Depending on soil temperature, soil chemistry, and environmental conditions present, a different spectrum of plant species in the canopy is always expressed.
This is why plant diversity is an insurance policy with Mother Nature.
Notice Sorghum Sudan, a warm season C4 grass capturing sunlight above the canopy in 30+ degree conditions. And although, unseen in these pictures, a cool season C3 grass such as Italian Rye Grass capturing sunlight lower in the canopy. This diversity allows you to capture 100% of available sunlight throughout the growing season.
View a Compilation Of Pictures from farmers across Western Canada.
Full Season COVER
Seeding Best Practices
STEP 1: If weed pressure is an issue or you have a history of problem weeds on the field you selected, we recommend a pre-burn herbicide application (with no residual). Do not plant on fields with kochia problems.
STEP 2: If applying Nitrogen, keep below 40 Ibs/actual. A multi-species rhizobium inoculant is required. Excess nitrogen fertilizer will inhibit legumes in establishing a relationship with rhizobium bacteria. ‘
STEP 3: Do not broadcast. Target 3 ⁄4 of an inch or up to 1 inch if moisture is available. The larger seeds will “give way” to the smaller seeds in the blend. Do not bury the blend 2-3 inches into the ground.
STEP 4: Waiting for ideal soil temperatures ( 6-10 degrees C) allows the warm season species to establish & avoid frost risk - increasing the potential for yield, feed quality & drought resilience.
Full Season Cover
Harvest Options
For higher protein & palatability, harvest early. For higher yield & TDN, harvest later. The blend provides flexibility depending on your farm goals.
Silage Best Practices Click here to learn more
Dry Hay Practices Click here to learn more
Mob Grazing Click here to learn more
Compacted Headland Click here to learn more
Image: Darlingford, Manitoba
Did You Know? 96 percent of a plant comprises three elements: Carbon, Hydrogen & Oxygen. (water & sunlight)
Extend The Grazing Season
Graze The Regrowth
Plant species in the Full Season Cover have been selected to maximize regrowth potential for late fall grazing. This grazing provides a balanced, diverse cattle feed (energy + protein).
High Precip: Expect Cool Season Plants to compose the majority of regrowth biomass.
Low Precip: Expect Warm Season Plants to compose the majority of regrowth biomass.
*Moisture throughout the year will also determine regrowth potential.
Connor English. Territory Manager & farmer discussing regrowth on his farm in 2024.
Full Season Cover
research/feed analysis
A balanced feed ration of energy (cereals) & protein (legumes)
To view the feed analysis research summary, Click Here.
*Contact your local dealer or provincial Territory Manager for more feed analysis results.
Full Season Cover
Plant Species In The blend
See below for some general information regarding each plant species in the blend.
Featured
Darwin Gork from Plumas, Mb discussing Return on Investment.
Chance Rothwell from Shellbrook, Sk discussing seeding implements.
Andy Keen from Darlingford, Mb discussing weeds.
Full Season Cover
Farmer Testimonials
To find testimonials from farmers across Western Canada who have implemented the Full Season Cover into their operations, click here.
You can find further farmer testimonials on social media via Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
Click on image to view Farmer Testimonials.
Full Season Cover
Farmer Meetings
If you’re looking for further education on the concept of multi-species cover crops for winter forage & grazing - consider attending one of our upcoming meetings.
A great opportunity to network with like-minded farmers from your area.
Click on image to view upcoming dates of events near you.
Remember to ApPly
OFCAF FUnding
Remember to apply for the OFCAF funding, where you may be eligible to recieve $35.00/acre (max. $75,000) for adopting multispecies cover crops on your operation. Click here for help getting the process/application started.
Funding will differ across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, & Alberta.
Interested in Learning More?
We are farmers ourselves
Feel free to contact your Provincial Territory Manager if you have any further questions regarding the Full Season Cover.
