The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority have put signs up in the Bayfield and Lake Huron tributary watersheds that read “We’ve Got it Covered!” to show where cover crops have been planted earlier in the year.
Cover crops are crops that cover the soil in between cropping seasons, often times in this area they are planted after wheat, and they are left in the ground over the winter. Crops like Clover, Radish, Ryegrass and Sunflower are all cover crops.
Keeping the ground covered during the winter months helps reduce wind and water erosion during storms and snow melts, while also keeping soil out of creeks, rivers and Lake Huron.
The goal of the sign campaign is to recognize the farmers who are making an effort on their land, and to encourage others to think about how they can use cover crops on theirs.
