Initial Summary of Small Grains Trial – handout

Published Nov 1, 2014

Cover crops provide a high-quality and low-cost feed during times of low feed supplies. • Beef graziers worked with neighboring row crop farmers to plant cover crops and monitored grazing value. • Grazing cover crops extended the grazing time on crop stubble fields and reduced the amount of stored feeds required.

Key Findings

  • Soil compaction was not increased following cattle grazing cover crops.
  • Cover crops provide reasonablypriced forage for grazing livestock, protect the soil for crop farmers, and allow graziers to rest their pastures longer in the spring.