In recent years, the demand for cover crop seed has grown alongside the rise in organic and sustainable farming. This increased demand, combined with higher distribution costs, has led to price hikes and seed shortages, particularly for organic seeds. Organic producers are required to use organic seed sources when available but often must rely on conventional seeds or bear high shipping costs for organic cover crop seed. The objective of this project is to enhance access to organic cover crop seed by improving knowledge and success in on-farm cover crop seed production.

Through variety trials focused on seed production qualities, research-based information has been provided for producers, researchers, and agricultural professionals who have utilized this information to continue building on this work. Five cover crop species were evaluated, testing four to six varieties of each, to identify those that successfully mature seed in season and yield high-quality seeds in the Maritime Northwest. All varieties were assessed for their ability to: 1) produce a vigorous cover to protect the soil and suppress weed growth, 2) generate a superior seed set promptly at the end of the season, and 3) ensure a high-quality seed harvest with viable seeds.

A field day will be hosted during the seed harvest to demonstrate and discuss the trial evaluation process, cover crop production techniques, seed production principles, on-farm genetic selection for maintaining superior seed stock, and harvest and seed cleaning methods. Additionally, a research bulletin will be produced that summarizes the trial results, outlines the benefits of on-farm organic cover crop seed production, and provides basic guidelines for cover crop seed production.

This project marks an important first step towards establishing a regional organic cover crop seed production system.