Cover Crops: Watching Grass Grow
Webinar Details
When:
Sep 11, 2019 2:00 pm US/Eastern
Length: 00:49 (hh:mm)
Advance Registration NOT required.
View now on-demand.
Presenter(s):
- Alyssa DeVincentis - PhD Candidate, UC Davis - Hydrologic Sciences Graduate Group,Davis CA
CEU Credits/Certificate Offered:
- Certificate of Participation
- Conservation Planner (CP) - 1 hour Conservation Planning Credit
Virtual Event Format:
Group Viewing Available:
The webinar “Cover Crops: Watching Grass Grow” features PhD researcher Alyssa DeVincentis, who explored the economic, environmental, and policy dimensions of cover cropping in California’s high-value agricultural systems. Drawing on field data, grower interviews, and economic modeling, she explained that cover cropping can provide significant soil health and water benefits but is only economically profitable under certain conditions—such as in almond orchards with long-term investment horizons, flexible contracts, or strong subsidies. While adoption remains low due to costs, perceived risks, and information barriers, DeVincentis emphasized that cover crops can build resilience, reduce erosion, and potentially lower irrigation needs, making them an important long-term sustainability practice. The webinar concluded with a call for crop-specific subsidies, better farmer knowledge sharing, and policies that recognize the broader societal value of cover crops.
The webinar “Cover Crops: Watching Grass Grow” was presented by Alyssa DeVincentis, a PhD researcher at the University of California, Davis, and hosted by the NRCS Soil Health Division. DeVincentis shared her research on the economic, environmental, and policy dimensions of cover cropping in California’s almond and tomato systems. Using field data, grower interviews, and cost-benefit modeling, she found that while cover crops provide well-known soil health benefits—such as erosion control, organic matter increase, and improved water retention—their profitability depends on crop type, management practices, subsidies, and climate conditions. Almond operations showed long-term economic benefits, whereas tomato systems only became profitable under specific conditions, such as flexible harvest schedules or reduced irrigation needs. The webinar emphasized that information gaps, risk perceptions, and limited policy support remain key barriers to broader adoption. This webinar was designed for farmers, conservation professionals, researchers, and policymakers interested in soil health and sustainable agriculture practices. It provided practical insights into the economic feasibility of cover crops, highlighted how policy tools like subsidies and groundwater markets could influence adoption, and underscored the importance of sharing grower experiences to reduce uncertainty. Overall, the session encouraged participants to view cover cropping as a long-term investment—similar to renewable energy—that benefits both farm operations and society.
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