By Jared Goplen and Eric Mousel
Now is the prime time to be seeding small grain stubble fields with a cover crop to be grazed this fall, winter or next spring. One of the many benefits of incorporating small grains into the crop rotation is the ability to get a forage cover crop established by the end of August, which is a great way for beef and dairy producers to add value to their crop fields by extending the grazing window or adding to the forage supply.
The amount of forage produced by cover crops will vary widely depending on establishment success, precipitation, and growing degree-day accumulation from seeding to harvest. There are a number of cover crops well-suited for livestock grazing or mechanical forage harvesting. Some crops work better than others depending on your specific objectives and field scenarios. Before selecting cover crop species, determine what you want from the crop.
- Do you want to graze or harvest the forage this fall, next spring, or both?
- What is more important, forage yield or forage quality?
- Are you planning to graze the cover crop or chop it as haylage?
- Do you want the crop to winterkill or to regrow next spring?
- How much are you willing to spend on seed?
- Are there grazing restrictions for herbicides applied earlier in the year?
- These are all questions that need to be addressed when selecting species or species mixtures. There are several great resources available online to help make your decision easier.
Source: umn.edu