Annual Cover Crop Options for Grazing and Haying in the Northern Plains
(R1759, Revised June 2020)The purpose of this publication is to provide annual forage options that can be used in cover crop mixtures for livestock grazing and/or hay production. The use of cover crops in a cropping rotation has been resurrected in recent years due to greater awareness of their environmental and ecological impacts on our natural resources.
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The use of cover crops in a cropping rotation or as an integrated livestock-cropping system has become a popular option for farmers. The value of cover crops to the environment and our knowledge of their usefulness continues to grow.
Although cover crops have been used for centuries, farmers and ranchers today have become more aware of management strategies to reduce soil erosion, improve soil biodiversity, increase soil nutrient retention and promote soil water-holding capacity.
Cover crops may provide opportunities to use cropped land for grazing livestock or to produce a harvested feed source. Livestock grazing of cover crops can further recycle nutrients back into the soil. Harvested cover crops for hay, haylage and silage; when harvested at the correct time, can provide a nutrient-rich winter feed.
Types of Forages Species
Many annual forage species can provide excellent grazing opportunities for livestock or as harvested feeds. However, with the relatively short growing season of 110 to 150 days in the northern Plains, limitations occur for many species. This is especially true when developing forage mixtures for planned late- and early season grazing periods. When growing a forage to be harvested mechanically, seeding should occur in late spring to early summer for planned summer harvest and in September for winter cereals to be harvested the subsequent year for planned early summer harvest.
One fact to be aware of is that cool-season crops can be seeded in the spring (April - June) and summer (July - August) months, while warm-season crops need to be seeded late spring through midsummer (May - July).
A whole-systems approach: Resource objectives and concerns should be identified before utilizing cover crops in a livestock grazing system so that an appropriate cover crop mix can be determined.
Some examples of resource concerns are: soil health, weed problems, field water stress and livestock dry lot management.
Establishment of Cover Crops
Establishment of a cover crop requires a relatively weed-free seedbed and good seed-to-soil contact, similar to planting other crops. Drilling the seed in will provide better establishment than broadcasting it.
Fall cover crop seed can be applied aerially onto standing corn or soybeans as they are drying down and enough sunlight can penetrate the ground between the rows. Aerial seeding only works for small seeds (turnip, radish, rye, etc.) and yet the success of establishment will depend on rainfall after seeding.
Interseeding between rows at the V4 to V6 stage also has been performed successfully, whereas seeding at V6 or later does not provide much forage growth. Regardless of timing, if moisture is limited, plant growth is limited to nonexistent. Thus, in dry years, aerial seeding and interseeding are not cost-effective.
Recommended seeding rates, depths and dates for each cover crop also must be considered when planning to integrate cover crops into an operation (Table 1). Cover crops for late-season grazing should be seeded no later than Aug. 1 to be cost-effective in the northern Plains so young plants have time to develop prior to frost.
Be aware of herbicide carryover if the field has been burned down or sprayed chemically due to sensitivity issues for some cover crop species. Some herbicides may have residual effects that inhibit cover crop growth.
Table 2 summarizes the risk of cover crop injury for common herbicides used in North Dakota. Herbicide carryover is a function of the chemicals half-life and is influenced by sunlight, moisture and soil properties. If you are planning on grazing, check the label for grazing restrictions.
The following sections are divided into yearly appropriate times for establishing cover crops and season of use for grazing and/or haying applications.
Fall Seeded Cover Crops for Spring Grazing
Spring grazing options require preplanning eight to 12 months prior to forage utilization. The most common options are winter cereal crops planted in the fall. Winter cereal options include winter wheat, winter rye and winter triticale.
A winter annual such as hairy vetch or biennials such as sweetclover may be incorporated into a cereal crop seed mixture to enhance soil health benefits and plant diversity in the forage system while providing an additional source of protein and energy for grazing livestock. We recommend caution with hairy vetch due to its potential to survive for many years after seeding and become a nuisance weed in subsequent cash crops.
So which winter cereal crop should you use? Select cereal grain types based on goals for the land, grazing needs, crop insurance guidelines and herbicide carryover (if applicable). If the goal is to graze the winter cereal crop the subsequent spring, winter triticale provides the most palatable feed type, while winter rye is the most winter hardy but less palatable.
In recent years, winter triticale seed has been the least cost effective, while winter rye the most cost effective (Table 1). Winter wheat is a highly palatable winter cereal but is the least winter hardy; however, new varieties that increase winter hardiness are showing great promise.
Similarly, winter triticale varieties may have poor winter survival, especially in eastern North Dakota. Thoughtful planning of early spring grazing or earlier season haying must be considered when choosing a cereal grain type or mix.
Spring grazing of cereal varieties should occur at the optimum stage of plant development for animal nutritional requirements. The cereal grains below (Table 3) were harvested at the early to midflowering stage of production and measured for quality. Comparisons can be made for livestock nutrition, production of biomass, hardiness, competitiveness with weeds and cost.
Using winter-hardy varieties to improve the success of establishing a viable forage crop is critical.
Spring Seeded Cover Crops for Summer Grazing and Haying
(mid-July to early September)
Cover crops and annual forages make excellent feedstuffs for grazing or haying during the summer season. Often, the development of a summer-season forage crop in North Dakota dedicates land use for an annual single-crop system. Forage species selected for summer use will vary, depending on intended practice.
Although most forage species will fit a grazing program, some are better than others. In comparison, some broadleaf forages are not recommended for baled feed due to high moisture content (Table 4). In some operations, dual use of a cover crop is preferred, with haying followed by grazing or vice versa if sufficient regrowth provides full use of the resource.
Summer Seeded Cover Crops for Late-season Grazing
(mid-September to mid-January)
Cover crops for late-season grazing can provide significant cost savings to producers by minimizing the need for baled forages. Brassica varieties will dominate this season due to their remarkable forage quality, even after a killing frost (Table 5). We recommend that these mixes include a source of fiber such as a cereal or grass. Introduce livestock slowly and allow them to adjust to a fall cover crop mixture that may be nutrient-rich in comparison with late-summer range.
Late-season grazing of cover crops can be part of a dual-crop system in which a grain, other cash crop or hay crop can be planted beforehand in the spring, followed by the cover crop.
Producers need to keep in mind that cover crops planted in mid to late summer are precipitation-dependent and success will be possible only with adequate rainfall to replenish the topsoil.
The second crop in the dual-cropping system (cover crop) also will use water reserves found in the subsoil and can impact growth and yield of the subsequent year’s crop if spring and summer moisture conditions are poor.
Cover crops for late-season grazing should be seeded no later than Aug. 15 to be cost effective in the northern Plains. Warm-season crops also will have limited value if seeded after Aug. 1 due to the short growing season that remains. The cover crop can be seeded after the grain or hay crop is removed.
If the first crop is intended to be harvested for hay, haylage or silage, you can seed the cover crop with the first crop. Once you harvest the first crop, the second crop already will be established but short in stature.
The cover crop, with the exception of legumes, will grow rapidly once the first crop is removed and moisture is plentiful. Make sure to check Risk Management Agency guidelines to ensure your first crop (for example, corn) that is planned for haylage or silage qualifies for crop insurance if a second crop is planted with the first crop.
Annual Cover Crop Haying Options
Hay baled for later forage options should focus on maximizing yield and quality. Hay should include a mix of grass and legumes, or a single species that can be harvested at the correct time to potentially meet an animal’s protein and energy requirements. A single species may provide easier hay management; however, it lacks diversity, leading to fewer soil health, pollinator and wildlife benefits.
An assessment of the hay stand prior to harvest is critical to determine the harvest date for maximum quality and yield. Table 6 highlights specific properties and characteristics for each species listed. Please refer to Table 1 for recommended seeding rates for single species and incorporating species into a mixture.
Always consider seed cost, input resources and quality of purchased seed that has the potential to produce high-quantity and high-quality feed. If production costs exceed net profit return, a cover crop may not be an economically viable option. Soil health benefits are difficult to quantify and can provide an economic value.
Grazing cover crops does increase the fertility of the soil and aggregate stability of the soil particles, and may improve infiltration of water. The livestock producers also will save money in labor and fossil fuels, reducing the use of fossil fuels associated with hauling of manure and feeding cattle in a dry lot, and labor with feeding cattle in a dry lot.
Herd health benefits also may be found with cattle grazing longer on pasture versus being confined in a dry lot setting.
