Quality Watch: How is MMPA's Cover Crop Project going?

Sarah Michalek

MMPA Member Representative

Sarah Michalek

MMPA’s customers express a lot of interest in learning about how our members are contributing to sustainability initiatives and the dairy industry’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050. We have been approached by different customers and NGOs to participate in projects that promote the adoption of soil health practices, among other best management practices. One specific project we are currently involved with looks at the implementation of cover crops and the potential positive impacts of the adoption of this practice.

Through MMPA’s sustainability survey, we understand that half of our membership will utilize cover crops on a percentage of their acres given the right factors during the fall. To increase practice adoption, a couple of MMPA’s customers, including Unilever, have contributed funds to offset some costs of implementation.

To learn more about the project and member farmers experiences with cover crops, tune in to the MMPA Cover Crops Project Virtual Field Day on June 15. The field day will include visits to MMPA members’ farms, and you’ll hear from them on what they’ve learned using cover crops. MMPA has open enrollment for additional members in the cover crop project. If you are interested in receiving more details, please contact me at 248-305-0537 or smichalek@mimilk.com.

Jessie Deelo

North America Sustainable Source Dairy Consultant, Unilever

Jessie Deelo

Unilever, one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, is driven by our purpose: to make sustainability commonplace. In June 2020, we set out a new range of measures and commitments designed to improve the health of the planet by taking even more decisive action to fight climate change, protect and regenerate nature and to preserve resources for future generations.

As the world’s largest ice cream producer, the importance of developing tools and programs to advance sustainable dairy production is imperative. We recognize the critical role of our key suppliers, such as MMPA, and are excited to invest in dairy producers to support soil health practices.

We initiated the Cover Crops Project with ten dairy farmers in 2020 to advance soil health outcomes. We know cover crops build soil organic matter and improve nutrient cycling as well as provide benefits for crop yield, water quality, manure management and biodiversity. We also understand that these management practices add costs to the operation before benefits are realized. Unilever offers cost share and technical assistance to producers to help address that financial burden.

We are proud of our partnership with MMPA. And excited to work together to support resilient, sustainable dairy farmers.

James Weber

MMPA Member

James Weber

Four years ago, we began experimenting with cover crops, and that experimentation continues today. Like most, we started with cereal rye; it is cheap, abundant, and user friendly. Fast forward to today and we are now sowing seven species mixes that act as a cover crop and feed source. The variety of seeds available improves year over year and has produced viable options for any cropping strategy.

Thus far, our most obvious benefit has been the new ability to double crop, something I never knew could be done in my area. We are able to grow our standard cash crop and sneak a forage producer on that acreage which can then be harvested in late fall or early spring. This has increased our gross income potential and allowed us to maximize asset utilization. The less obvious perk of cover crops is the soil health. We've all read and heard about how it will improve, but we are now starting to see proof in soil tests and yield performance.

As a young farmer, my opinion is that cover crops and techniques contained within the scope of regenerative agriculture, present some of the greatest potential for our industry to change the current dynamic and thrive.

More information about the MMPA Cover Crop Project can be found on page 14.