Optimizing Corn –Cover Crop Systems for Production of Dairy Feed in a Changing Climate in BC, Canada.

The objective of this study is to optimize year-round production of corn and winter cover crops to help dairy farms in south-coastal BC reduce dependency on feed imports. The approach is to find the ideal combination of corn maturity, corn planting date, corn harvest date, and cover crop species to maximize year round production of dairy quality feed. The experiment examines all combinations of 2 planting dates x 2 harvesting dates x 2 corn maturities matched with 4 winter cover crops grown in the periods between corn harvest and corn planting. The cover crops are winter wheat (farm standard), common vetch (legume), fall rye (highest yield), and Italian ryegrass (highest quality). A parallel trial is screening 30 potential winter cover crop species and varieties. It is expected that corn production will be affected by the choice of winter cover crop. The 32 cropping systems will be compared for production of dry matter, total digestible nutrients, crude protein and other nutritional indicators; the corn contributes mostly feed energy and the cover crops contribute fiber and possibly crude protein. Results for the first 12 month cycle (May 2015-May 2016) will be presented. This study will help farmers maximize the productivity of their land while adapting to changing climate in both summer (hotter and drier) and winter (milder and wetter).