Matt Dykshoorn
B&L Dairy Farm
Cover Crops and Soil Protection in Abbotsford
Matt Dykshoorn, the General Manager of B&L Dairy Farm, has been farming on the Sumas Prairie, in Abbotsford, since 1998. He started the dairy farm in 2006 and is currently milking 80 cows and managing approximately 150 acres of predominantly corn silage, hay, and grass silage.
Like many farmers in the Fraser Valley, Matt works within a tight rotation to make the most of every acre. After corn silage comes off in the fall, fields can be left exposed to heavy rains and winter winds if nothing is planted That’s where cover crops come in, seeded after harvest to protect and improve the soil during the off-season. Depending on the farm’s goals, cover crops can provide forage, capture leftover nutrients, build organic matter, and improve soil structure for the following spring.
“Cover crops are important for us because it allows us to sell our higher-value hay crops,” Matt explains. However, in recent years, waterfowl pressure has made it increasingly difficult to grow cover crops. “The last couple of years have been really bad. This year was particularly tough,” Matt adds, “I’ll be thrilled if I could harvest 20% of my cover crop.
Despite the challenges, the benefits of cover crops are clear. “The feed is an obvious benefit when you get a harvest, a nice cover crop,” Matt explains. “The other thing we’ve really noticed, especially being in Sumas, is the soil erosion. Fields that don’t have a cover crop, you can see the dust and the dirt blowing off them.” Cover crops help prevent this erosion by providing a layer of organic matter, plant roots help keep the finer soil particles in place, reducing the impact of both wind and water. Matt notes that, “Having a fiber mat, like a cover crop, really makes a difference.”
“We’ve always been growing cover crops,” says Matt, “but to be honest, we were starting to second guess whether it was even worth it.” The program, however, gives them the financial push to continue trying, even when increased bird pressure creates additional challenges. “It gives us an incentive to try again and see if we can outsmart the ducks one way or the other.”
How Can You Help?
Your donation will work towards conserving important farmland and wildlife resources contained in the Fraser River delta.