cover crops

[max]

Just wondering if anyone has done multispecies crops for grazing or bale production.

[smcgrath76]

We use a combination of oats/barley/fall rye/winter triticale and this year added vetch. Next year the plan is to add some tillage radish, possibly some forage kale and we are looking at overseeding vetch into corn.
For us, adding the winter cereal into the spring seeded crop greatly improves protein levels and grazing the following spring. Also seems to help reduce crop disease.

[grassfarmer]

We will be growing some next year - not decided on the species yet. A bit of caution is needed when it comes to seed I think as some guys selling the mixes are cashing in on it being the "in thing"
We are looking for something to give a high quality silage or greenfeed crop in July with substantial regrowth for fall grazing.
Grew a sweet clover/italian ryegrass mix this year and it did very well.

[max]

So when do you seed it? I was thinking in the end of may for summer grazing. Also was going to try some winter cereals along with radish and vetch maybe turnip in August after we are done our bale silage. Hoping to use that senerio for fall grazing.

[max]

So when do you seed it? I was thinking in the end of may for summer grazing. Also was going to try some winter cereals along with radish and vetch maybe turnip in August after we are done our bale silage. Hoping to use that senerio for fall grazing.

[max]

So when do you seed it? I was thinking in the end of may for summer grazing. Also was going to try some winter cereals along with radish and vetch maybe turnip in August after we are done our bale silage. Hoping to use that senerio for fall grazing.

[max]

Sorry about the multiple post

[smcgrath76]

We usually seed late June or early July. Corn goes in as early as possible. We are going to try something a little different. Looking at seeding spring cereal mix with vetch in May (Grain farmer seeding time), cutting it in August and then putting in a winter wheat/triticale/Fall rye mix in early September. The next year we would target haying that mix in early July and then July seeding a spring cereal crop for fall grazing. The idea would be that we could take 3 crops every 2 years and compete with corn production for way less cost. If I knew about grain farming a bit more I might try forage peas in every 4th row in the corn planter.

[max]

What kind of grazing days do you get with your corn. Thinking we may try some of that compared to traditional cereal swath grazing. Snow hasn't been a factor the last few years but about 5 years ago our entire field was covered with 3 to 4 feet of snow. didn't get very good utilization of the swaths that year.

[WiltonRanch]

Sean I like your idea. Corn is fine but the cost is up there and consistency of quality is far less than a cereal crop. I wonder if a guy threw in a cocktail of spring cereal, winter cereal, sweet and red clover, and canola. It provides the cereals, legumes, and crucifer and is probably cheaper and more readily available than all these high priced cocktails. Aside from the clovers and canola the cereals can be seeded together with no need to seed after a silage harvest. Done it myself with rye with no troubles. Broadcast the legumes and canola after with the drill. Heck God forbid grab a couple lbs bin run canola for your seed. Tillage radish looks neat but why put those dollars out there when canola can root deep too. I'm cheap just looking for different options.

[perfecho]

Have started baling my swath grazing, but not putting twine on....just in case we get the 3-4 ft of snow.....I can then use a hot wire or just grapple and move into a section of the field. I let them in later to clean up any left behind feed.

[WiltonRanch]

Changing topics here but anyone using a whole buncher and is that guy still building them? Can't seem to find any contact info.