Forage Cover Crops

Cattle grazing rye cover crop near Tecumseh — 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)

Reducing Nitrate Concerns When Grazing Forage Cover Crops July 9, 2018

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.

Q&A on Spring Herbicides and Fall Cover Crop Plantings May 14, 2018

Grower question: Can I use a herbicide like Callisto, with mesotrione as its active ingredient, now and plant radishes and turnips for a cover crop in early September?

Cover crop plots — Figure 1. Some of the six cover crop mixes featured on the Sept. 25 cover crop field day, each planted for a specific purpose. Diversity is important in cover crops to help feed the soil system. (Photo by Paul Jasa)

Cover Crop Field Day Monday, Sept. 25 near Lincoln September 15, 2017

View six cover crop mixes seeded after wheat harvest, each planted for a specific objective, as well as how fertilizer affects biomass production. See also how planting date affects biomass production. Includes a no-till drill demonstration and various legume cover crops for nitrogen fixation.

Figure 1. At the Rob and Trent Bohling Farm near Johnson a cover crop mix of oats, turnips, radishes, and volunteer wheat was planted after wheat and is being compared with an area with no cover crop. The experiment is to evaluate and compare crop yields and soil properties among three systems: cover crops, cover crops followed by grazing, and no cover crop. (Photos by Gary Lesoing)

Cover Crop Field Day and Tour Sept. 19 in Southeast Nebraska September 14, 2017

Nebraska Extension, North Central SARE, NRCS, and the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition are sponsoring a Cover Crop Field Day and Tour Tuesday, September 19 in southeast Nebraska. View multiple cover crop mixes and hear from researchers studying various aspects of their production and use.

Market Journal on Cover Crops and Weed Control, Drones, and Making Silage September 8, 2017

View segments from the Sept. 8 Market Journal, including one with Nebraska Extension Cropping Systems Specialist Rodrigo Werle on cover crops and weed control.

Review Herbicide Restrictions Before Planting Forage Cover Crops September 8, 2017

Forage cover crops after corn or soybean have restrictive plant-back restrictions. These two Nebraska Extension resources offer further information on what to check before planting cover crops this fall.

Cattle grazing cover crops — Figure 1. An August 9 Nebraska Extension event offers a chance for cattle and cover crop producers to learn and network about potential opportunities. (Photo by Mary Drewnoski)

Cover Crop Event Brings Together Farmers and Cattle Operators July 18, 2017

Farmers and livestock feeders interested in growing and using cover crops can learn and network with each other at an event 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 9, during the Lancaster County Super Fair.

Successfully Seeding Forages into Wheat Stubble June 22, 2017

Wheat stubble can be an excellent seedbed in which to no-till plant forages, particularly if you're preparing to start planting immediately after wheat harvest, while soil water is available and before weeds get a foothold.