Cover crops are gaining popularity Livestock farmers see the green on their neighbors’ cornfields, and think “that it’d make their cattle happy.” Grazing cover crops is popular in more small-grain-friendly areas like the Dakotas. Could it work in Iowa? Cover crop sharing can benefit both row crop farmer and grazier – providing organic matter for the soil and for fodder – but there are a few obstacles to making the arrangement work. The major legal and logistical issues are described and potential arrangements or solutions are discussed in this handout.
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