image description: four labeled clear plastic bags of seeds of different colors and sizes

Cover crops can be a powerful tool for farmers to use in their livestock pastures, addressing the "summer slump," allowing over-grazed paddocks to recover, and otherwise supporting farm productivity through the health of both soil and animals..

As part of a multi-year research project developed to determine how specific approaches to livestock management, forage production and soil health translate into the production of grass-fed beef, research coordinator Juan Alvez, PhD, has been testing pastoral cover cropping as a strategy with multiple possible benefits.ÌýÌý

Key observations and recommendations are:

  • The ideal cover crop mix ("cocktail") depends on goals and needs for the farm.
  • Timing is important.Ìý Done correctly, drilling a warm season mix into existing cool-season pasture (or the reverse, depending on the season) can provide an additional 3.5 - 5 tons/acre of dry matter for livestock when nothing else is growing.
  • By drilling seeds in, it is possible to preserve soil structure and biology while planting.
  • Cover cropping can be a best use of a marginal or "sacrifice" paddock to support animal growth while managing feed costs.

Preliminary Findings from Cover Crop Research

image description: grazing belted galloway cows have furry coats of brown or black with a wide white "belt" in a lush green pasture

Pastoral cover cropping can be a challenging but valuable tool.Ìý On most farms, there tends to be a tension between productivity goals, costs of input, and environmental impact of management practices.Ìý By cover cropping, all of these can be addressed, though trade-offs will likely be made.

Download the preliminary findings and details in the 2019 Building Your Own Cover Crop Mixes (PDF file).

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Interested in knowing more about the Center's work or do you have a question we haven't answered here?Ìý Contact us orÌý 802-656-5459 and we'll do our best to help.

black and white image of village, grazing animals, stream

Contact

  • Help with a plan for grazing your livestock:ÌýÌýAmber Reed atÌýamber.reed@uvm.eduÌýorÌýKimberly Hagen atÌýkimberly.hagen@uvm.eduÌýorÌý802 522-6729Ìý
  • New England Grazing NetworkÌýor regional partnerships: Jenn Colby at 802-535-7606 or jcolby@uvm.edu
  • General inquiries, pasture walks, other upcoming events, or to include your event in our Pasture Calendar: Colene Reed at colene.reed@uvm.edu
  • Vermont Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Program Education Coordinator Mary Ellen Franklin at MaryEllen.Franklin@uvm.edu
  • Pasture or grazing research questions or ideas: Juan Alvez at 802-656-6116 or juan.alvez@uvm.edu

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