Fitting Annual Forages Into a Crop Rotation

Crop rotations may benefit from high yielding forages that are harvested as silage or hay and marketed to livestock producers. Traditionally producers have focused on a few common crops for forage and silage production, such as corn and alfalfa, and for good reason. Corn grown for silage will produce more energy per acre than any other crop. Alfalfa makes an excellent high quality forage, especially for dairy rations or as a source of protein.

Producers may also consider some other less utilized crops for use as forages that can easily be worked into a “corn-beans-something else” crop rotation. The winter annuals work well as a fall-seeded cover-crop in the Northern Plains. These alternate annual forages may be appropriate for planting in less productive fields that won’t respond well to the higher inputs needed for cash grain crops. Should unfavorable weather restrict the growing season these forages can also work well as an emergency or rescue crop.

It is important to note that as these alternate annual forages mature their nutritional value decreases, therefore it is important that producers plan planting and harvest times for when plants should be at their optimum for nutritional value. For example, many small grain forages, when harvested in the pre-boot stage, have about 20% crude protein, 40% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 30% acid detergent fiber (ADF), and around 80% in vitro digestibility. Those values are similar to corn silage but with a higher crude protein content. Total dry matter yields for alternate annual grains are higher than 2.5 tons/acre which is lower than expected from corn silage. However, if planned and timed right these crops can work well as a second crop, or can be a valid alternative for a long-term crop rotation plan.

Table 1: Characteristics of potential warm season annual grasses.

Table 2. Suggested Planting Dates, Seeding Rates, and Harvesting Times for Annual Forages.

By taking advantage of the varying conditions which these alternate annual forages prefer, a producer can very easily diversify their crop production portfolio which can lead to additional income streams while contributing to the overall health of their farmland.

Crop rotations may benefit from high yielding forages that are harvested as silage or hay and marketed to livestock producers. Traditionally producers have focused on a few common crops for forage and silage production, such as corn and alfalfa, and for good reason. Corn grown for silage will produce more energy per acre than any other crop. Alfalfa makes an excellent high quality forage, especially for dairy rations or as a source of protein.

Producers may also consider some other less utilized crops for use as forages that can easily be worked into a “corn-beans-something else” crop rotation. The winter annuals work well as a fall-seeded cover-crop in the Northern Plains. These alternate annual forages may be appropriate for planting in less productive fields that won’t respond well to the higher inputs needed for cash grain crops. Should unfavorable weather restrict the growing season these forages can also work well as an emergency or rescue crop.

It is important to note that as these alternate annual forages mature their nutritional value decreases, therefore it is important that producers plan planting and harvest times for when plants should be at their optimum for nutritional value. For example, many small grain forages, when harvested in the pre-boot stage, have about 20% crude protein, 40% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 30% acid detergent fiber (ADF), and around 80% in vitro digestibility. Those values are similar to corn silage but with a higher crude protein content. Total dry matter yields for alternate annual grains are higher than 2.5 tons/acre which is lower than expected from corn silage. However, if planned and timed right these crops can work well as a second crop, or can be a valid alternative for a long-term crop rotation plan.

Table 1: Characteristics of potential warm season annual grasses.

Table 2. Suggested Planting Dates, Seeding Rates, and Harvesting Times for Annual Forages.

By taking advantage of the varying conditions which these alternate annual forages prefer, a producer can very easily diversify their crop production portfolio which can lead to additional income streams while contributing to the overall health of their farmland.