Description
The use of cover crops in integrated crop-livestock systems is not a novel approach but has increased in popularity over the last few years due to the renewed interest in soil conservation, nutrient cycling, and water conservation. Moreover, cool-season annual forages have the ability to extend the grazing season, reduce the need for stored or bought supplemental feedstuffs, and as a result, lower winter-feeding costs. Small grain cover crops, legumes, forbes, and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) vary in their growth distribution and can be planted alone in monocultures or planted in mixtures to take advantage of the individual growth patterns. The Southeast alone accounts for 12% of the total farmland in the United States and has major cash crops of cotton, peanuts, soybeans and corn in addition to warm-season perennial pastures that can be overseeded with cover crops. Opportunity exists for beef and row crop producers to diversify their operations and take advantage of the growing season of cover crops.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Extending The Grazing Season Through The Use Of Cover Crops
The use of cover crops in integrated crop-livestock systems is not a novel approach but has increased in popularity over the last few years due to the renewed interest in soil conservation, nutrient cycling, and water conservation. Moreover, cool-season annual forages have the ability to extend the grazing season, reduce the need for stored or bought supplemental feedstuffs, and as a result, lower winter-feeding costs. Small grain cover crops, legumes, forbes, and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) vary in their growth distribution and can be planted alone in monocultures or planted in mixtures to take advantage of the individual growth patterns. The Southeast alone accounts for 12% of the total farmland in the United States and has major cash crops of cotton, peanuts, soybeans and corn in addition to warm-season perennial pastures that can be overseeded with cover crops. Opportunity exists for beef and row crop producers to diversify their operations and take advantage of the growing season of cover crops.
