By Wyatt Miller

Forage and hay supply is low, and the problem is unlikely to be resolved this year even with favorable weather. While there are several options available, grazing or harvesting cover crops could be an alternative feed option for some producers.

If you have not planted cover crops, there are several factors to consider before selecting a forage cover crop:

1. Do you have the necessary equipment? If you are currently row cropping, you likely have the basic equipment necessary to plant a cover crop. If you are interested in seeding a cover crop before harvest or concerned with a lack of time at harvest, you may need to consider equipment for interseeding or broadcasting seed.

2. What is the fence and water situation? Most land being cropped today is not fenced, and water availability may be limited. Several temporary fence options could be used, but they are not physical barriers and may be riskier based on location and class of livestock.

3. How does the soil drain? Producers with heavy, wet soils may have a harder time grazing cover crops. Most grazing will take place from late fall to early spring, typically a wetter time of year. If cattle are grazing when conditions are wet, it can lead to significant compaction and may affect the following cash crop.

4. Which cover crop species? Several cover crops can be used as a forage, such as cereal grains, oats, annual ryegrass, peas, vetch, brassicas, clover, etc. Selection will largely depend on how soon the cover can be planted (summer, later summer, early fall, late fall) and if a producer wants a cover that winter-kills. Producers with wheat will have the most flexibility when determining a cover. The Midwest Cover Crop Council website, mccc.msu.edu has a selector tool to help determine which covers would most likely be successful under various parameters. Those looking for grazing this fall will likely have to interseed into the cash crop to achieve enough growth.

5. What is the cost? Cover crop seed cost is highly variable depending on the source of seed; however, utilizing the feed value can significantly help offset the cost. Producers may be eligible for state cost share to seed cover crops from the county Soil and Water Conservation District. Cover crops in the practice may be grazed once forages are 6-8 inches tall, but grazing must cease when forages are down to 4 inches. Contact your local SWCD office for details on state cost share assistance.

The decision to graze cover crops will be different for each operation, but it may a viable option to help with the low forage supply.

A number of cover crops have the potential to extend the grazing season. Most common are cool-season cover crops which can grow late into the fall and be grazed in November and December such as forage turnips, cereal rye, triticale, winter wheat and annual ryegrass.

The cereal grasses will overwinter in Missouri and can also provide for early spring grazing. Rate of gain on cereal rye, wheat and annual ryegrass has been shown to exceed a pound of gain per day if sufficient fall growth has been achieved before grazing begins.

For more information, see MU Guide G4161, Cover Crops in Missouri, Putting Them To Work on Your Farm.

Miller is a University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist and writes from Palmyra, Mo.