Cover Crops

Cover crops used correctly as part of your soil management strategy can deliver a range of benefits.

They help to ensure fields remain covered all year round, particularly where spring crops are part of the rotation.

Our cover crop mixes are developed based on a rigorous R&D process, understanding what species are best suited to different systems.

Backed by Research

Our advice on cover crops is based on the results and experiences of the Agrii R&D trials into all aspects of the use of cover crops since the trials program started in 2014.

We recognise the opportunities that cover crops offer to improve soil organic matter and farm sustainability, but also understand the challenges with establishment and management.

Our research aims to help answer these questions, ensuring growers have the best chance in maximising their benefits and maintaining, if not improving, crop productivity.

The interest in utilising catch, cover and companion crops as part of a sustainable farming system is increasing year on year as growers look towards minimal tillage and improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) as methods to reduce establishment and input costs, whilst improving the health of their biggest asset, their soils in the longer term.

The move to minimal tillage needs to be planned and managed to reduce the potential negative effect on crop yield which remains the key driver of profitability. The Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) options within it offer an opportunity for growers to be supported on this journey.

We continue with the Agrii R&D trials to evaluate new species and varieties, establishment techniques, companion cropping and soil biota changes across a range of soil types to enable us to offer you the benefit of the knowledge gained.