Start Date

1-19-2017 2:15 PM

Description

The use of annual forages (cover crops), both summer and winter, have been utilized for several years. When cover crops first were used to extend the grazing season, it began with one to three species in a mixture. That was before the soil health benefits were being observed and discussed as they are now. There have been a wide variety of planting methods used: airplanes, helicopters, conventional and No-till drills. Some seeding methods is simply broadcast on the soils surface and lightly tilled in or just rained in depending upon the weather. Then we discovered the herbicides and amounts used can impact the species being planted. Also, the corn hybrid varieties can affect the planting and germination as well depending upon how erect the leaves are and how much sunlight can penetrate the canopy when flown on. Since the beginning, there has been many adaptive applications made. Some farmers added seed applicators to their combines, and some fertilizer companies equipped the high wheeled spray rigs with equipment to aerial seed over the standing crops, etc. Planting cover crops after small grain crops were harvested or silage chopping were found to be good methods, with a wider date range for establishing these forage species. In high forage demand locations, some farmers dedicated a few acres to rotating summer annuals with winter annuals without grain cropping the land. Some farmers find this may lead to a high cost per grazing day, compared to perennial forages.

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Jan 19th, 2:15 PM

Cover Crops/Annuals and Grazing

The use of annual forages (cover crops), both summer and winter, have been utilized for several years. When cover crops first were used to extend the grazing season, it began with one to three species in a mixture. That was before the soil health benefits were being observed and discussed as they are now. There have been a wide variety of planting methods used: airplanes, helicopters, conventional and No-till drills. Some seeding methods is simply broadcast on the soils surface and lightly tilled in or just rained in depending upon the weather. Then we discovered the herbicides and amounts used can impact the species being planted. Also, the corn hybrid varieties can affect the planting and germination as well depending upon how erect the leaves are and how much sunlight can penetrate the canopy when flown on. Since the beginning, there has been many adaptive applications made. Some farmers added seed applicators to their combines, and some fertilizer companies equipped the high wheeled spray rigs with equipment to aerial seed over the standing crops, etc. Planting cover crops after small grain crops were harvested or silage chopping were found to be good methods, with a wider date range for establishing these forage species. In high forage demand locations, some farmers dedicated a few acres to rotating summer annuals with winter annuals without grain cropping the land. Some farmers find this may lead to a high cost per grazing day, compared to perennial forages.