Discover the Cover II: 
Conservation Covers, Buffers & Hillside Farming 
USVI Conservation Covers 
for Sloped Land Protection 
& Farming Workshop 
March 8-9, 2016 – University of the 
Virgin Islands, St. Croix Campus  
Expand your knowledge of conservation buffers and 
cover crops and how they play an integral role in 
soil & water conservation on sloped land.  
• How can conservation buffers and cover crops 
increase ecosystem services for farms and 
communities?   
• Join us to explore the world of improved sloped 
land management and the many benefits that 
conservation covers can provide to your land. 
 
Tuesday, March 8, 2016,  5:30 – 8:00 p.m. and 
Wednesday, March 9, 2016,  9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 
 
Tuesday’s event will be held at the UVI in the 
Research and Extension (REC) building room 133.  
Wednesday’s event will begin outside the South 
gate of the AES field facility, and then continue at 
Fred Miller’s Farm to learn contour farming.             
 
For Wednesday’s field activities, wear outdoor 
clothing and comfortable walking shoes. 
 
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?  Farmers, Agricultural 
Professionals, Landscapers and Conservation/ 
Environmental Specialists.  The workshop is FREE. 
Agenda at a Glance 
 
Tuesday Afternoon 3/8/16 
5:30-5:45 
Sign in, welcoming remarks, speaker 
introduction. 
6:45-6:15 
The role of conservation covers, buffers, and 
cover crops in promoting soil health.     
6:15-6:45 
Contour farming on sloped land  
6:45-7:30 
Sloped land rain simulation & the need for 
soil conservation. Terrace farming 
techniques. 
7:30-8:00 
Overview of AES Agronomy Program, NRCS 
Plant Materials Program & assistance, cover 
crop research, closing remarks.  
 
Wednesday Morning 3/9/16 
8:45 a.m. 
Meet at AES field facility south gate. 
 
9:00-10:00 Field tour begins. Tour sunn hemp and cover 
crop fields, discuss no-till vegetable 
production. 
 
10:30-1:00 Tour hillside farming contours. Demonstrate 
and practice establishing contours using a T-
Stick and A-Frame. Show terrace 
construction; use of perennial buffers, annual 
crops for sloped hillside farming. Explore 
different ecosystem services that contour 
farming with conservation buffers can 
provide.  
Please RSVP by contacting UVI-AES at 340-692-4020 
or email Stuart Weiss at sweiss@live.uvi.edu   
Sponsored by UVI-AES-CES, SARE, and USDA-NRCS 
USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer