Lease Considerations for Grazing Cover Crops on Non-Owned Land

Published Aug 1, 2013

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.