I am the primary contact for cover crop use in vegetable production. The intensity of vegetable production necessitates active soil improvement regimes. Cover crops play an essential role in soil improvement as well as pest and weed management and biological nitrogen fertilization. Introduction of cover crops requires a systemic analysis of production systems, their constraints and limitations. Outreach on soil improving aspects are designed to fill prescriptions produced by the Cornell Soil Health Test. This work is particularly valued by the rapidly growing organic industry. Current new outreach activity focuses on the use of short cycle cover crops during the growing season, which is a useful practice for which guidelines have not yet been established. Supporting my extension work, I do applied research on physiology of summer cover crops in relation to their competitiveness against weeds, and their ability to improve soil condition. I also lead the extension for buckwheat grain production, and am a resource for non-pathogenic storage disorders in cabbage.