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Douglas County

K-State Research and Extension Douglas County 
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Lawrence KS 66046

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Get the Winter Graze On!

by Margit Kaltenekker
Agriculture Agent 

Whether or not drought has caught you short on forage for the coming winter, there are profitable options for sowing winter cereals, and broadleaved cover crops for winter grazing. Not only will these crops sustain and help your cattle gain up to 1.5 to 2.5 lbs. per day, but these crops also help build soil conditions. It becomes a win-win, as these crops increase soil life and biology, increase soil organic matter, water infiltration and water holding capacity, and improve inherent fertility – they increase future crop production while decreasing fertility costs. 

Cereal Rye, a widely grown winter cereal used for winter cover and grazing, best planted right after corn harvest, provides substantial late winter grazing tonnage. Palatability and forage quality from late summer sown- spring oats, and winter barley are even higher than rye and both can be blended into a rye grazing mix, maximizing yield. Sow spring oats and winter barley at half the rate, when seeded with rye. Winter wheat and triticale offer excellent choices as well; triticale, being a cross between wheat and rye, features benefits of both crops with less risk of wheat streak mosaic virus. Kansas State Forage Specialists highlight the features of these five small grain forage options in an excellent summary from an Agronomy e-Update. 

farm field covered in snow

For those looking to grow wheat as both a winter grazed forage and grain next year, this article on dual purpose wheat management , is another excellent summary from K-State Agronomy. Following a Dual-purpose wheat management strategy, spreads production risks supplementing the forage budget without hurting grain yields, if managed carefully. 

As producers seek ways to increase diversity in their grazing options, fast-growing, cold-hardy, high-yielding, high-quality Brassicas are like candy to cattle, similar to concentrate feeds; therefore follow precautions in managing rations. Brassicas notable for grazing are forage turnips and forage collard greens, or kale, broadcast or aerial seeded over any of the small cereal forage crops, to provide late fall grazing; sow half the standard rate (so 1 -2 lb. ac) inter-seeded with cereal crops. ‘Winfred’ forage Brassica is an interesting cross between turnip and kale - drought tolerant at establishment in early fall with extra winter hardiness.   

The possibilities are endless, finding those blends that work for you. Many producers across the Great Plains are finding success with multi-species winter grazed cover crops. With managed strip-grazing, they can easily distribute the fertility deposits from livestock as well as increase the soil microbial diversity from the mixture of warm and cool season covers over the season. 

The year 2022 will be recorded in history as the last year John Deere manufactured the moldboard plow. Farmers seeking transition to cover crops and no-till can find incentives through the local WRAPS (Wetlands Restoration and Protection Strategies), Natural Resource Conservation Service programs, or low interest FSA loans. Sow your winter cover crops now. Attend soil health, no till and cover crop workshops this winter to continue learning. By investing in the future of agriculture, by taking steps to care for soil health through transitions to no-till, cover cropping systems, we recover a deeper sense of stewardship, better soil health and water cycles, better yields, and healthier, nutrient-dense food for our families and animals. Douglas County Extension is prepared to assist in this process. Please do not hesitate to reach out.