Learn cover cropping strategies, drought resilience techniques and hands-on soil assessments at Lakeland Farms.

On October 2nd, join Organic BC and Ecocert at Lakeland Farms in Salmon Arm for a day of learning about their extensive cover cropping program, along with in-field soil assessments to explore soil health and management in practice.

Lakeland Farms is a diversified organic farm and feed mill that grows grains, produces eggs, and raises a small livestock herd. They have been cover cropping for years and have been trialing strategic timing of seeding into cash crops for best results. This year, they are taking it a step further by sending in their cattle to graze these cover crops.

Owner Mike Schreoder will share information about Lakeland’s business model and systems, their rotations, and where cover cropping fits into it all. He will talk in more detail about the economics of cover cropping, moisture management, and the equipment required to cover crop hundreds of acres.

We will also be joined by Agrologist Tanya Brouwers, who will discuss not only how to successfully cover crop through periods of drought, but also how cover cropping can be used as a defensive strategy to build soil organic matter, retain soil moisture and strengthen overall soil health—and, therefore, farm resilience.

Tanya will also lead some simple, hands-on, in-field soil assessments that include aggregate stability, soil compaction and water infiltration, that participants can take home and apply on their own farms. She will also help participants interpret soil test results.