On-the-farm with On-Farm Climate Action Fund: Newfoundland farmer’s thriving crops thanks to cover cropping

When Curtis Jennings and his now business partner Dave Goodyear first met a few years ago through a mutual interest in greenhouses, they never imagined they would be venturing into the farming business. Fixed Vegetables and Seed is located in Flatrock, Newfoundland and Labrador, and became a commercial farm in 2022 operating on 3/4 of an acre with 1/3 of their operations in garlic. The two farmers came from backgrounds in engineering and physics so starting a new farm from scratch required a lot of time, research, and patience.

Curtis and Dave wanted to try new techniques to help make their operations successful while providing environmental benefits to their farm. When they heard about cover cropping being offered through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF), they were intrigued to learn more.

“As we were getting our operation up and running, our extension officer from the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Government, Jane White, suggested we apply to the OFCAF program through Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation. She said this fund would help us adopt beneficial practices that would improve our soil health and increase crop yields,” says Curtis.

Having been successful in their application, the OFCAF programming helped them learn a lot about improving soil health through cover cropping learning sessions offered by Perennia. Through consultation with Perennia and others, they have been able to develop a sound cover cropping plan and put their new skills to the test.  

By planting cover crops, Curtis and Dave were able to improve soil health, water retention and sequester carbon which should go a long way to improving their yields and profitability for years to come.

“We have seen impressive results with the soil quality and the tilth of the soil since implementing cover cropping on our farm. As our farm continues to grow, we are optimistic about the results and benefits we’ll continue to see,” says Curtis.

The OFCAF program supports farmers, like Curtis and Dave, to adopt new practices that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gases, specifically in areas of nitrogen management, cover cropping and rotational grazing.

“OFCAF is a great opportunity for farmers with big or small operations,” says Curtis. “If you are thinking about getting into cover cropping, I recommend you apply so you can try it for yourself. I promise, you won’t regret it.”

Learn more about On-Farm Climate Action Fund.