Cover Crops Management with Becky Sykes, Fred Loimer, Sveva Sernia and Jordan Lonborg

Cover crops are widely recognized for their environmental benefits, such as improving soil structure, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting carbon sequestration, but their successful management into vineyard is far from straightforward. Growers often face a complex set of challenges, from choosing the right species for their climate and soil type to managing competition for water and nutrients. Timing, mowing, seeding methods, and the impact on yields and vine vigor add further layers of complexity.

In this Climate Talk, we dived into the real-world challenges of managing cover crops in vineyards. Our speakers shared practical experiences and lessons learned, exploring what works, what doesn’t, and why. This was a space to discuss trade-offs, troubleshoot challenges, and uncover adaptive strategies that can help make cover cropping a viable tool for more resilient and sustainable winegrowing.