Cover Crops
Well‑managed covers can capture, fix and return meaningful nutrients, help protect and regenerate soil and set up the next crop for success - if you match species, timings and management to your fields and farming system. The conversation is shifting from "do cover crops work?" to "how do I make them work (harder) for me?". Our approach combines farm experience with emerging UK data so you can plan with confidence.
Are cover crops worth it?
Before choosing species or mixes, it helps to understand what a well‑designed cover crop is expected to achieve. Our guidance on thoughtful species choice, establishment and destruction outlines how to capture real value.
Read more: "Are cover crops worth it? Thoughtful choices deliver returns"
Key takeaways:
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A cover crop is an active management tool, not a box‑ticking exercise
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Returns improve when species are matched to purpose (soil structure, nutrient capture, weed management, biodiversity)
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Sequencing, timing and termination matter as much as the mix itself
Summer cover crops in dry conditions
In dry summers, getting covers away can be challenging, but is not impossible. This article shares practical advice on how to adapt species choice and establishment tactics when moisture is limited, focussing specifically on short-term summer cover crops, or catch crops.
Read more: "Can Short-Term Summer Cover Crops Transform Your Farm's Water Management?"
Key takeaways:
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Species selection should reflect expected moisture availability and drilling window
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Even a quick catch crop can deliver meaningful soil health benefits and protect ground for the following crop