b'most common cover crops grown by potato growers were fall rye at 78 per cent, radish at 78 per cent, oats at 67 per cent and peas at 44 per cent. SURVEY HIGHLIGHTSNext year hopefully well get some more survey respondents from major potato growing regions in Alberta, and Manitoba. It is my hope that we can significantly increase the number of potato farmers taking part in the survey. I211 farmers responded to the 2019 Prairie Cover Crop Surveythink my results from the first year are great for a first try, Morrison says. Approximately 50 per cent of respondents were from Manitoba, and 25 per cent each from Saskatchewan and AlbertaFUTURE PLANSA total of 83,467 acres of cover crops were grownThe research work is currently in the second year of a three-year study. Morri-83 per cent of cover crop area planted by potato growers were son is collecting survey responses for this year until Feb. 1 and plans to launchshorter season cover crops, with the remaining 17 per cent full the final survey of his project next fall. seasonThis year, Morrison is hoping to increase the number of respondents Most common farm types of potatoes growers were annual grain at who grow potatoes and the total number of survey respondents overall. The100 per cent, conventional till at 89 per cent, and perennial crops at survey is a first of its kind for the Canadian Prairies, however when Morrison67 per centcompared his survey sample size to that of the major American survey run by56 per cent of cover crops sown by potato growers were sown using Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), he found his had aan air seeder, disk drill or planter and the remaining, and 38 per cent higher respondent percentage. were broadcastMorrisons work is showing him Western Canada is lagging on cover crop- Most potato growers planted a mixture of cover crops at 75 per cent, ping compared to counterparts in the U.S. Midwest and the Maritime provinces58 per cent seeded two to five species in their cover crop, and 17 per such as Prince Edward Island. cent planted six to 10 speciesI feel that internationally, the Prairies might still be a bit behind. And I think part of that is also because perhaps you have a shorter window whenNot one (so far) has said that their old system worked better. And some you can grow cover crops up here, Morrison explains. of these have maybe only grown cover crops for the first time this year, Morrison does expect cover crops could continue to grow in interest on theMorrison says.Prairies. As part of his survey questions this year, he is asking farmers if theirFor more information on the cover crop survey visit: https://sites.google.old cropping system worked better. com/view/prairiecovercropsurvey/home34 SPUDSMART.COM WINTER 2021'