APPLEGATE, Ore. — Garett Long, director of agriculture at Troon Vineyard, said cover crops attract pollinators, provide habitat for armies of beneficial insects, improve soil health and increase biodiversity that builds resilience.

Troon has areas of permanent cover crops not only in alleyways between rows, but also directly under vines to reduce weeds, tilling and sprays.

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“There are so many benefits of using cover crops and reducing those inputs,” Long said.

Plus, cover crops can simply provide a beautiful backdrop with flowers such as poppies, he added.

Long and Jason Cole, owner of Pacific Crest Vineyard Services, gave the opening presentation at Oregon State University’s grape field day Aug. 13.

More than 50 grape growers and researchers attended the event, which started at Troon and continued with discussions at OSU’s Southern Oregon Research & Extension Center in Central Point.

Switching management styles

Troon was established in 1972 and operated conventionally for decades, with plenty of tillage and spray. But in 2018, new owners switched to a focus on biodynamic and regenerative agriculture.

Cover cropping was a way to turn over the ground less and improve soil health, Long said.

Cole, who lists Troon as a client, said the vineyard had lots of leaf hoppers years ago, but cover cropping and other practices reduced populations and pressure from those pests.

Each vineyard’s cover crops will be unique and based on soil type, management and goals. There’s a vast variety of plants to choose from.

Troon conducted two years of trials and continued to hone its custom mixes of about 15 species from Buzz Cover Crop Seeds.

There’s a lot of overlap between alleys and rows, but grass isn’t planted under vines because it can be too aggressive.

Cover crop tips

Depending on the area, certain cover crops can be too vigorous and impede vine health, Cole said.

Vineyard owners should start cover crops underneath vines three or four years after planting grapes to reduce competition.

Cole said cover crops are fragile after seeding.

“Fescue is an example of a tough grass once it’s established, but the first few months it’s really delicate,” he added.

Long said after harvest, composting and other preparations in the fall, cover crop seeds are spread out and the ground isn’t driven on again for about six months.

Cole encouraged grape growers to alternate the timing of mowing to maintain beneficial insect populations.

Specialized equipment

Managing cover crops is essential for the health of the vineyard, and that takes specialized equipment underneath vines.

Troon utilizes an undervine tiller and a mower that can tackle alleys and underneath rows in one pass, with sensors to avoid trunks. That’s followed up with a leaf brush that properly trims remaining cover crops.

Combined, the three tools can cost more than $50,000, but have reduced labor, fuel and input costs, Long said.

Emily Mostue, who has five acres of vines with Dunbar Farms and Rocky Knoll in Medford, Ore., said those specialized tools wouldn’t work financially for her small vineyard, but she uses cover crops in her aisles.

“The cost of that machinery is daunting for a vineyard my size,” responded John Pratt of Celestina Vineyard and president of the Rogue Valley Winegrowers Association.

Still, Pratt found the talk interesting. He’s replacing his cover crop for his 10-acre vineyard this winter.

Greg Schultz, owner of Schultz wines and nearby Glory Oak Vineyard & Farm, said he took a page of notes. With just eight acres of vines, he doesn’t have the resources or time to do research on cover crops like Troon.

“It’s just invaluable to see someone else’s vineyard to see how they’re doing things. There are lots of great ideas,” Schultz added.