Grazing

More Livestock Farmers Grazed Cover Crops, Saw Lower Value

lbarrera@lesspub.com — Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Farmers raising livestock & cover crops remained largely consistent in their practices, though there were slight shifts with the species grazed & timing.

Farmers Set New Record for Average Acreage Planted Green, Battled Dry Fall Conditions

lbarrera@lesspub.com — Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Other seeding & termination trends show drones as a seeding tool continued to grow & the type of herbicide used for termination varied by region.

Cover Cropping Costs Climb

lbarrera@lesspub.com — Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Farmers spent more on seed & saw fewer pesticide savings, but thanks to incentive payments, most are not bearing the full brunt of expenses.

2025 Cover Crop Benchmark Study Reveals Latest Trends, Changes & Challenges

lbarrera@lesspub.com — Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Data from the annual survey found that average planting green acres grew to a new record, costs rose & more livestock owners turned to cover crop grazing.

Cover Crop Grazing Provides Economic & Soil Health Wins

Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Iowa no-tiller’s complex cover crop ‘salad mix’ continues to reveal new benefits to his operation each year.

Forage Matters: Cover Crops, Grazing & Nitrogen Fixation

Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Legumes do have the ability, when conditions are right, to fix large amounts of nitrogen, no doubt about that. To capture the most of that fixed nitrogen, the legume should be cycled back into the soil through plant decay or by grazing and cycling through the animal and back to the soil.

Opportunity Knocks for Oats in Minnesota

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Oats were once a major Minnesota crop, with about 4 million acres planted annually on average until the early 1960s. But in 2025, oats accounted for only 195,000 planted acres in Minnesota, and those oats were used mostly for livestock feed and straw bedding.

Rick Matt Shares Preview of Upcoming National Cover Crop Summit Presentation

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Iowa no-tiller Rick Matt will be presenting at this year's National Cover Crop Summit. In this video, he gives a short preview of what audience members can learn from his session titled "Covers & Critters: Integrating Livestock on Summer Annuals."

6 Big Questions About Frost Seeding

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Frost seeding is a relatively inexpensive practice that can introduce more legumes, and thus more nitrogen fixation, into many pastures.

First Two Speakers Announced for Can’t-Miss 2026 National Cover Crop Summit

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

So who will be speaking at the 2026 National Cover Crop Summit year’s event, you ask? Drum roll please…

Silo Gases — the Hidden Danger

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Silo gas is formed by the natural fermentation of chopped silage shortly after it is placed in the silo. Every farm worker must understand the dangers associated with silo gases and how to deal with them.

Economics of Crop and Livestock Integration

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Crop and livestock integration is a farm management strategy that combines production of livestock and annual crops on the same acres.

Boost Grazing by Seeding Cover Crops Aerially

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Modern technology like utility drones can help producers “double dip” by establishing cover crops earlier in the season and achieve both fall and spring grazing from the same piece of ground.

NDSU Study Finds Livestock Grazing Pays Off in Cover Crop Systems

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Using crop residues for grazing and manure as fertilizer is a common practice, historically, but agriculture has shifted toward more specialized cropping and livestock systems. However, the two systems are finding their way back together again.

How to Graze Cover Crops for Healthier Soil and Profitable Farms

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Cover crops are planted in between cash crop seasons and are a great tool for improving soil health and preventing erosion.

Michigan Farmers Share Lessons on Interseeding Cover Crops in Corn & Soybeans

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 14:50:37 -0400

Michigan farmers have found creative ways to get cover crops in earlier. Here are some interseeding tips we have learned from trial (and some error).

National No-Tillage Conference Program Jam-Packed with Practical, Profit-Building Ideas

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Whether growers are just looking to tweak their no-till operation or planning for big changes, there will be something for nearly everyone at the 33^rd annual National No-Tillage Conference that kicks off in January. The full program has been released for the 2025 conference, which is scheduled for Jan. 7-10 in at the Marriott Downtown in Louisville, Ky.

Covering the Soil, Feeding the Livestock

lbarrera@lesspub.com — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Roughly 34% of livestock owners grazed their cover crops, 30.6% harvested covers for livestock and 16.2% used covers for silage.

The First Commandment of Cover Cropping is “Do No Harm To Thy Cash Crops”

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 13:02:21 -0400

If you’re planting a cash crop immediately after your cover crop, you’ll need to make very different decisions than you would if you’re planting a forage crop for grazing.

Tips for Managing Herbicide Carry Over with Cover Crops

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Some herbicides will remain in the soil for months after application; these residual herbicides can significantly harm subsequent cover crop stands.

Balancing Carbon-to-Nitrogen Ratios Key to Dryland Cover Cropping

mpaukner@lessitermedia.com — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Incorporating animals, diverse cropping rotation makes the most of limited rainfall in desert climate.

Cover Crops Revive Soil After Years of Conventional Tillage

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Shawn Feikema grew tired of seeing his soils wash away in southwestern Minnesota, where they average about 29 inches of rain and 40 inches of snow annually.

Cover Crop Inter-Seeding: An Option for Fall Forage?

Mon, 19 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

For cattle producers with access to irrigated cropland, cover crop inter-seeding may offer fall and winter grazing options, particularly during years when drought is expected.

Management Tips for Grazing Spring-Planted Cover Crops

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

While a number of potential problems can occur with various forages, most can be managed. The most frequent problem is the accumulation of nitrates that is common with oats and brassicas but can occur in a variety of species under certain growing and management conditions.

Evaluate Rotations of Cover Crops, Summer Annual Forages at Virtual Field Day

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, is hosting a free virtual field day on Thursday, March 13, at 1 p.m. Central time.

Inflation Reduction Act in Action: Utah Ranchers Utilize Cover Crops to Improve Soil Health

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Cattle and hay have been at the heart of the Pearson family’s 200-acre ranch for six generations.

Accomplished Farmer Shares Effective Method to Boost Crop Yields: ‘[It] Works Harmoniously With Nature’

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

An experienced South African farmer shared his remarkably simple methods for drastically improving crop yields in a sustainable and cost-effective way.

Grazed Cover Crop Gains Vary with Soil Texture

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Interest in grazing cover crops has climbed over the last decade with greater pressure and awareness of the resiliency of our agroecosystems, and generate more revenue.

Mid-Winter Cornstalk Grazing

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Cornstalks remain a valuable winter forage, but icy snow cover may require supplemental feeding for grazing livestock.

Crabgrass Could Serve as an Alternative Cattle Forage

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In eastern Kansas, incorporating warm-season grasses like crabgrass can extend the grazing season by providing forage during summer when cool-season grasses decline.