The Jersey Royal Company, part of the Albert Bartlett group, launched the 2025 Cover Crop Competition at Open Farm Sunday in July.
Building on the resounding success of last year’s inaugural event, this year’s competition promises to be even bigger, welcoming more growers and farmers and showcasing Jersey as the regenerative farming island, where sustainable practices like cover cropping are simply part of everyday life.
Celebrating Jersey’s Regenerative Farming
The Cover Crop Competition is designed to shine a spotlight on Jersey’s farming community and its commitment to biodiversity, soil health, and sustainable agriculture. The competition invites all Jersey growers to demonstrate their expertise by cultivating outstanding cover crops in four key categories:
Best Bird Cover Crop
Best Visual Cover Crop
Best Pollinator Cover Crop
Best Soil Health Cover Crop
Growers and farmers will receive expert guidance from agronomists, environmental specialists, and the competition’s valued sponsors. Judging will take place in August and October, with the winners announced at the Jersey Farmers Conference in November.
Building on Success
Last year’s competition set a high bar, with innovative entries and dedicated farmers delivering measurable benefits for local wildlife and the environment. The 2024 winners included Fosse au Bois Growers, Meleches Farms, J&S Growers, and Somerleigh Farms, whose achievements were celebrated for advancing sustainable agriculture in the Island.
Strengthening Partnerships
This year, the competition welcomes Jersey Dairy as a new sponsor, joining an esteemed list of supporters including Jersey Birds on the Edge, Normans Seed Suppliers, Enhancement Land Resource Management (States of Jersey), Jersey Beekeepers Association, Pollinator Project, and Jersey Biodiversity Centre.
A spokesman for the Albert Bartlett group said: ‘Together, we can continue to make Jersey a beacon of regenerative agriculture, supporting local wildlife and building a resilient future for the Island.’
