Forage Cover Crops

Sorghum-sudan cover crop plant damaged by a light frost last week.

Forage Hazards Following a Freeze Event

September 30, 2020
Freezing temperatures cause metabolic and cellular changes to our forage crops, specifically prussic acid formation and nitrate poisoning are the biggest concerns. Learn more about these issues and how to avoid them.

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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 22, 2020
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.

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Field of cover crops

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?

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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.

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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.

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Cover of NebGuide G2276

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.

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Market Journal screen shot

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.

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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.

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