Cows grazing corn residue may not remove as much organic material and as many nutrients as might be expected, but they will likely redistribute some nutrients in the field due to their traffic patterns.
Nutrient removal by cows grazing corn residue may not be as much as you might think. Here a livestock and a forage specialist break down the numbers and look at removal rates for organic matter and minerals.
The Crop Residue Exchange is an interactive online tool to help crop and cattle producers connect and develop mutually beneficial agreements to use crop residue for grazing. A new feature allows producers to also list forage cover crops for grazing.
Figure 1. Severely hail-damaged corn field where the ears are the top-most part of the plant. Following severe hail damage, cover crops can offer a variety of benefits from using available nitrogen to aiding weed control. (Photos by Jenny Rees)
Cover crops offer a number of benefits in fields sustaining late-season hail damage, but should be planted soon to provide sufficient time for growth. A guide covers various cover crops and their use, seeding rates, and seeding method.
If you were hit hard by hail and need to cover your fields, forage cover crops can provide an opportunity for haying or grazing as well as a protective plant layer. Plant selection is a key factor in successfully managing production.
Figure 1. Cattle grazing cereal rye cover crop near Tecumseh. Often grazing poses less of a nitrate toxicity risk than haying and feeding.. (Photo by Mary Drewnoski)
Nitrate toxicity can be a concern when planting cover crops for forage in hail-damaged crop fields. With proper management of haying and grazing, the risk can be reduced.
Should the cold spring delay cover crop termination? Growers walk a fine line between growing cover crops long enough to get the biomass they want without reducing yield in the following grain crop. This discussion from an agronomist, entomologist and weed scientist looks at various factors to consider.
This week a CropWatch reader asked: Can you safely graze cover crop rye this spring after anhydrous has been applied? That depends on several factors, write three extension specialists in agronomy and beef production.
