Cover Crops to Support IPM in New Mexico Vineyards and Orchards

Cover crop establishment in vineyards and orchards has demonstrated optimization of vine growth and performance, pollinator conservation, soil health and microbiology, soil erosion, and pest management. In this course, you will explore regionally applicable information for the establishment and enhancement of pollinator habitats, as well as natural enemies of insect pests in vineyards and other agricultural sites in New Mexico. By establishing demonstration sites throughout the state through farmer collaboration, we look to provide sustainable techniques for the reduced need of pesticides for weed and pest control, improve New Mexico’s native habitat through encouraging pollinator conservation and stewardship of natural resources, identify and explain specific species’ life cycles, demonstrate native plant species as optimal cover crops, and support biodiversity in general inclusive of IPM.

By the end of this course, learners should be able to:

1. Describe and demonstrate vineyards and orchards, larger environmental settings, and pollinator requirements.
2. Identify the regions and production goals associated with various vineyard and orchard floor management schemes.
3. Identify and describe various cultivated and native plant cover crops and how to maintain each.
4. Define IPM and how native plant cover crops and pollinators fit into and enhance its structure within New Mexico vineyards and orchards.
5. Identify and quantify at least 10 native pollinator species.
6. Identify and interpret why and how different growers succeeded or failed in using native plant cover crops within their respective vineyards.