Extend Grazing Season with Cover Crops in Missouri

By Blake Jackson

Stored hay remains a livestock producer’s key insurance against seasonal feed shortages, says University of Missouri Extension plant science specialist and cattle producer Caleb O’Neal. It allows flexibility to rest pastures during drought and provides reliable feed for winter herd maintenance.

O’Neal strives to graze high-quality forage most of the year but relies on hay “when grazing pickings are slim.” High-quality hay requires favorable weather and timely management. “But in many cases, the hay that we as producers make is cut too late in the season and has poor feed value,” he notes.

To extend the grazing season, producers can manage existing forages differently or plant species that grow during times of limited forage availability, many of which are included in cover crop seed mixtures.

Cover crops offer an opportunity for extended grazing. “Planting cover crops between cash crops like corn and soybeans is a widely adopted practice across the state, and while these annual cover crop species are frequently planted for the benefit they provide to the soil, their planting also opens the door to outstanding opportunities for graziers who are willing to think outside the box,” O’Neal explains.

While cereals like wheat and rye provide excellent early spring forage, establishing fall cover crops has been challenging due to late cash crop harvests. However, modern technology such as utility drones allows aerial seeding of cover crops between late-maturing cash crops, enabling both fall and spring grazing from the same field.

“The magic happens when the cash crop is harvested and the dense canopy is removed, allowing sunlight to be captured by the already established young cover crop below,” said O’Neal.

Common aerial-seeded cover crops include small-seeded brassicas like turnips and radishes, while winter-hardy cereals like rye or triticale combined with legumes such as crimson clover ensure forage availability into spring.

“If we plan ahead, we can establish high-quality forage that not only supports the nutritional needs of our herds but also reduces our reliance on costly stored feed. When implemented correctly, grazing cover crops in the spring and fall is a win for the livestock, the land and our bottom line,” O’Neal said.

Photo Credit: istock-psisa