Purple Bounty Now Available to Northern U.S. Farmers

"Agricultural Research Service (ARS) geneticist and breeder Thomas Devine and collaborators have released "Purple Bounty," the first winter-hardy, early-flowering vetch for the northern United States.

Until now, hairy vetch--a cover crop and weed-suppressing mulch favored particularly by organic farmers--had limited use north of Maryland because it copes poorly with northern winters. But Purple Bounty has survived winters as far north as upstate New York."

Read the article