Grazing cover crops - Articles

Grazing Cover Crops, Years of Experience Mean More Profits

By Sarah Hill posted on June 22, 2021

Adding cattle to a cover crop system can be very beneficial for both livestock producers and cover crop growers, extending the grazing season and offering an additional source of expensive feedstuffs while providing soil health benefits. However, there are so many benefits to grazing that do not have a dollar value.

One-Third of Growers Use Cover Crops for Grazing, According to Annual Study

Fifty-seven percent of growers who graze livestock on cover crops graze less than 300 acres.

By Sarah Hill posted on June 15, 2021

Using cover crops as livestock feed can provide additional synergy to growing cover crops while providing additional soil health benefits and an extra income stream.

Finalize Forage Grazing Plans

May 28, 2021 | Posted in Grazing

Source: North Platte Telegraph

This is the time for finalizing your forage grazing plans. Whether growing small grains or cover crops, grazing will be maximized if livestock producers wait until the plants are 4 to 8 inches tall before starting the grazing process. Read more in this article from the North Platte Telegraph (North Platte, NE).

Proposed NRCS Change to Cover Crop Guidelines Brings Protests

April 14, 2021 | Posted in Termination

An adjustment of conservation standards by the NRCS could prohibit growers from mechanically harvesting cover crops for seed, hay, silage or biomass, potentially hamstringing dairies who rely on covers for additional or emergency forage.

[Video] Incorporating Cover Crops

April 14, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Grower Burton Heatwole from Georgia shares his experience using tillage radishes as a cover crop, how using cover crops changed the soil on his farm, how cover crops reduced compaction in his soil, and more.

[Podcast] Grazing Beef Cattle on Covers: Part 1

This week’s podcast, sponsored by Yetter Equipment, is the first in a two-part series featuring Mary Drewnoski, Beef Systems Specialist with University of Nebraska Extension. Drewnoski will discuss what cover crop species are best for grazing beef cattle, what cover crops should be at when grazing cattle, how often cattle should be rotated when grazing covers, and more.

March 19, 2021 | Posted in Grazing

This week’s podcast, sponsored by Yetter Equipment, is the first in a two-part series featuring Mary Drewnoski, Beef Systems Specialist with University of Nebraska Extension. Drewnoski will discuss what cover crop species are best for grazing beef cattle, what cover crops should be at when grazing cattle, how often cattle should be rotated when grazing covers, and more.

Effects & Economics of Grazing Cover Crops

February 24, 2021 | Posted in Economics

Source: University of Nebraska Extension

In non-irrigated systems, adding cover crops into the rotation can decrease crop yields if precipitation is limited; however, the use of cover crops for forage may offset costs while retaining soil benefits. This on-farm research study was designed with a system’s perspective incorporating crops, cattle and cover crops in a non-irrigated setting while including the economics of the entire system. Read more in this article from the University of Nebraska.

Cover Crops: An Opportunity to Improve Ag Literacy

By Sarah Hill posted on January 6, 2021

“People like seeing livestock grazing on cover crops. It’s aesthetically pleasing.”

Grazing Covers Can Benefit the Bottom Line

January 4, 2021 | Posted in Grazing

Source: AgriLife Today

Growing dual-purpose wheat for both grazing and grain production is an important agricultural practice in the Southern Great Plains. But of late, more Texas Rolling Plains producers want to know if alternative systems to dual-purpose wheat, such as grazing cover crops, can bring additional value. Read more in this article from AgriLife Today.

[Video] Cover Crops & Moisture: One Grower's Experience

December 29, 2020 | Posted in Grazing

Charlie Edinger, a grower from South Dakota, shares his experiences using cover crops to manage moisture in the growing season to soak up excess moisture and prepare his fields for planting cash crops.