3 minute read
Cover crops extend the grazing season, improve soil
from OFN August 31, 2020
by Eric Tietze
farmhelp Making farming a little easier
Considering Cover Crops
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By Klaire Howerton
Cover crops can be a valuable forage for fall and winter grazing programs, and producers who raise both cattle and row crops might want to consider implementing one or more types of cover crops into their planting schedules.
Some commonly planted cover crops around the Ozarks for fall and winter grazing include cereal rye, triticale, brassicas, winter wheat and winter barley. Jill Scheidt, agronomy field specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, explained rye, triticale and barley can be planted from Sept. 1 through 15, and wheat approximately mid-October, after producers harvest row crops like corn and soybeans, In the case of brassicas (turnips, radishes, kale and canola), planting can be done mid-August by inter-seeding them into existing row crops.
“Ensure good seed to soil contact no matter what the planting mechanism – no-till drilling, aerial seeding or broadcasting,” Scheidt advised. “Add 30 to 50 units of nitrogen and follow soil test recommendations for phosphorus and potassium.”
Successful germination of cover crops is also one of the best forms of weed control, Scheidt explained.
“In the fall, there are less weeds to compete with than the spring, so a good, healthy stand should be able to shade out most weeds,” she explained. “Plant the right rate at the right time and depth to give seeds the competitive advantage.”
She also advised producers to research the MU seeding guide for additional information on proper planting at https://extension2.missouri.edu/g4652
A managed grazing program will help a producer utilize their cover crops in the most efficient manner. Scheidt suggested implementing a strip grazing system for livestock to get the most out of the crops.
Not only can cover crops offer good fall and winter grazing, they also have the added benefit of keeping the land from going fallow and promoting good soil health. Visiting with neighbors who are utilizing cover crops, as well as with extension specialists and Natural Resource Conservation Service employees can help producers make a good choice of which cover crops to plant for grazing.
Reduce Forage Shortages with Cover Crops
Droughts can compound the problem leading to forage deficiencies. Forage shortages can cause poor animal performance, overgrazed and degraded pastures, and increased expenses. ]
FORAGE STOCKPILING
Forage stockpiling in pastures involves allowing for adequate time and moisture so that one to two tons per acre of forage can grow and become dormant. When winter feeding typically starts, the pasture is grazed, delaying the use of expensive winter hay for several weeks or longer. Practices like strip grazing using electric fences can help ensure the efficient and economic use of stockpiled forages.
PLANTING COVER CROPS
Cover crops can be immediately planted following grain crop harvest, or during fallow in a rotation, which provides extra forage in the fall that can be harvested or grazed. Many producers are already inserting full season cover crops for grazing into their cropping rotation
COVER CROPS IN MIXTURES
Planting cover crops in mixtures can help address several resource concerns at the same time. Mixes can be planned to improve both the quantity and quality of land and livestock needs. NRCS has information and materials to help you choose the right species of cover crops.
— Source, covercropstrategies.com
what do
you say?
What is your top reason to cull an animal from your herd?
“Fertility. If she doesn’t breed by the time she’s two and half a calf every year after that, then she’s going to find a new home at another farm.”
Regina Scharff Polk County, Mo.
“If a female doesn’t rebreed, I cull her. It comes down to fertility.”
Kenneth Ragsdell Phelps County, Mo.
“If the animal has failed reproductively in production, and if its health has declined.”
Taylor Short Wright County, Mo.
“If she isn’t producing a calf every year then she needs a new address. Chickens are a lot easier; you can feel if they are a good layer. No need in feeding non-producers.”
