Sharing the Wealth of Cover Crops: Improved cover crop and soil health knowledge sharing and networking

View the project final report

Commodities

Practices

• Crop Production: cover crops
• Education and Training: demonstration, extension, networking, on-farm/ranch research, workshop
• Production Systems: agroecosystems

Virginia is home to a strong cadre of influencers who are very enthusiastic about cover crops.  These “cover crop champions” conduct outreach throughout the state and include leading farmers as well as personnel from VA Cooperative Extension (VCE), NRCS, and other agencies and agribusinesses.  Some of our most influential cover crop champions serve dual roles as agency personnel and farmers.  We see significant opportunity for improving coordination, communication and connectivity between our cover crop champions across Virginia.  Most champions operate as individuals, conducting outreach activities and field demonstrations without much coordination with peers, especially those from other agencies or regions.  These Virginia cover crop champions are a prime example of a SARE PDP train-the-trainer audience; they are the first-tier target audience for this project.  We propose to establish an advanced train-the-trainer program and communication network that will (a) enhance the connectivity and effectiveness of our existing cover crop champions/trainers; (b) help recruit additional cover crop champions/trainers; and (c) accelerate the transfer of cover crop information and inspiration from our trainer cadre to Virginia farmers, who are the ultimate target audience for this project.  Outcomes will be continually evaluated and tactics adjusted based on feedback from participants as well as from farmer focus groups assembled specifically for that purpose.  Pre- and post-project participant surveys will be an essential component of our project; survey results will be used to assess our success in achieving the project’s ultimate goal – positive behavior change among both trainers and farmers with respect to cover crops.

• Establishment of Virginia Cover Crop Education and Information-Sharing Network through SARE PDP
• Creation of networked on-farm cover crop trials and educational venues for PDP trainings
• Documentation, videoing, and curating of farmer testimonials and observations of networked cover cropping systems
• Systematic training, sharing and networking of cover crop knowledge and practice