Both! All forages are cover crops 1/26/2018. Kim Cassida, MSUE, 1. Is it a cover crop or a forage? Cover Crop Benefits of Forages

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1 Cover Crops, Forges, nd Grzing Dr. Kim Cssid MSU Forge Specilist Is it cover crop or forge? Both! The only iologicl difference etween cover crop nd forge is whether you will hrvest ny of it for oveground livestock (forge) or leve it ll for the underground livestock (cover crop). All forges re cover crops Cover Crop Benefits of Forges Suppress weeds Legumes fix nitrogen (vi roots!) Prevent erosion (roots!) Build soil orgnic mtter (roots!) Improve soil physicl structure (roots!) Cpture nd hold soil nutrients (roots!) Increse wter infiltrtion nd holding cpcity of soils (roots!) And much more Chrcteristics of idel cover crops for forge 1) Fst growing, vigorous seedlings 2) Rech hrvestle iomss within 6 dys 3) Do not self seed 4) Acceptle nutritive vlue (energy, protein, minerls) for intended livestock 5) Acceptle preservtion chrcteristics s hy or silge 6) Mngele toxicity risk to livestock 7) Regrowth/multiple hrvests cn e plus 8) Esy to terminte How is grzing different from hrvesting? Grzing hrvests less iomss (25 75% utiliztion) thn hy Grzing returns most nutrients to the field 5% of N 85% of P nd K Much of returned nutrient is in plnt ville forms Nutrients re sptilly redistriuted Hoof trffic is different from wheel trffic Grzing requires nimls, fence, wter, nd different mngement skills Kim Cssid, MSUE, cssid@msu.edu 1

2 Where re your opportunities? Cover crops cn e plnted nytime soil is exposed After row crop hrvest (corn, soyen, whet) Into existing row crop (frostseed, fly on, highoy seeder) Nurse crops protect new perennil seedings Wht could go wrong? Mny cn e redy to grze or cut (rssics, sorghums, teff) within 45 6 dys Cn e owned or rented ground Crop Insurnce Cution! Be wre of use restrictions on cover crops plnted under crop insurnce progrms. New Frm Bill is expected to chnge the current policy. Two different timing scenrios 1) During ctive cover crop growth period: Mechnicl hrvest nd grzing re llowed s long s sufficient regrowth occurs to meet residue trgets t time of cover crop termintion. Exmples: 1) YES grze rye in fll, let it grow ck in spring efore termintion 2) NO grze turnips lte in fll, destroy crowns, no regrowth 2) At termintion: Cution! Michign (Zone 4) cover crops must e terminted no lter thn 5 dys fter plnting of the insured crop. Approved cover crop termintion methods must result in NO REGROWTH. Methods: hericide, tillge, winterkill Mechnicl hrvest (hy, silge) is llowed s termintion method s long s NO REGROWTH occurs fter hrvest Grzing llowed s termintion method ONLY IF you hve three yers of on frm documenttion tht grzing s termintion does not reduce your crop yields AND letter of pprovl from two g experts. Consult your insurnce gent efore proceeding. Soil Compction Does hoof or wheel trffic cncel out soil structure enefit of cover crop? It depends Surfce compction cn occur if nimls re present while ground is wet Freeze thw cycle tends to correct the compction Methods to reduce compction risk from hrvesting cover crops 1) Use no till 2) Sty off wet ground 3) Grze while ground is frozen 4) Use mnged grzing to prevent concentrted niml trffic for extended time rottion, move supplement/wter sources Pesticides Pesticides used on row crops my hve long residul with grzing/forge hrvest restriction tht extends into cover crop period Pesticides used on cover crop itself my not e leled for grzing or hrvested forge Kim Cssid, MSUE, cssid@msu.edu 2

3 Weeds nd Toxins Universl concerns (psture, hy, silge) Weeds ryegrsses, cerel rye, hiry vetch, uckwhet Nitrte toxicity sorghums, smll grins, rssics Photosensitiztion uckwhet Concerns on psture only Blot whet, nnul clovers, medics, rssic Photosensitiztion immture forge rpe Neurologicl prolems/dermtitis hiry vetch Prussic cid poisoning sorghum, sudngrss, flx Concerns with hy/silge only Vitmin K deficiency sweetclover hy or silge (moldy) High moisture content rssics Fertilizer Costs Biomss production of most nnul forges is driven y fertility Cover crops don t usully get fertilizer Soil ph >6. for rssics nd grsses >6.5 for legumes Nitrogen yield improves with 25 5 l/cre of N t plnting for rssics nd grsses Phosphorus & Potssium Soil Test! Hopefully dequte on well mintined row crop ground On poor ground, follow soil test Boron my e needed for rssics on sndy or low OM soil Cn I ensile (insert nme of plnt here)? In most cses, YES! Criticl requirement for successful ensiling must e le to reduce crop moisture to 4 6% t the silo Wet hylge/lege increses clostridil fermenttion Most rssics re too wet (8 95% moisture in field) My work if mixed with dry(er) forge t the silo Relile nnul silge crops for Michign Forge sorghum, sudngrss, or sudex (use BMR vrieties for est forge qulity) Ots/pe, triticle Three Tips for Better Blege 1. Reduce prticle size Instll re cutter system on ler to cut forge to in lengths (improves fermenttion nd DM retention in low sugr or dry forges) 2. Mximize le density (>1 l DM/ft 3 ) Idel: Ble t 5 6% moisture If <5% moisture poor fermenttion, dry stems cn poke holes in wrp, low eroic stility when fed (ok if consumed w/in 24 hr) If >6% moisture higher risk of clostridil fermenttion nd otulism ded cows Reduce ground speed Increse PTO speed } revolutions/le to increse density Mintin constnt le size (especilly in line les) Three Tips for Better Blege 3. Exclude oxygen Wrp within 24 hrs (sooner is etter) Use t lest 6 lyers of 1 mil, UV resistnt wrp. Use more lyers if moisture <5%. High Moisture Wrpped Hy = Low Moisture Blege 1) Too wet for hy too dry for effective cid production in fermenttion yet it does not spoil 2) We re not sure why it works 3) AIR-TIGHT is ESSENTIAL, need t lest 6 mil of plstic wrp lyer, mye more 4) If ir cn get to the le, it will mold nd likely comust! Monitor wrp for holes during storge & ptch them Orient le lines N S to reduce UV plstic degrdtion on southern exposure Store wrpped les on smooth ground with good dringe 5) This product hs poor eroic stility nd should e consumed within 24 hr of opening le Kim Cssid, MSUE, cssid@msu.edu 3

4 Cover Crop Species s Forge Essentil Components of Forge Qulity Reltive to Cover Crops 1. Rule of thum Diry qulity lflf forge Protein ~2% ADF ~3% NDF ~4% RFV ~14 RFQ ~15 2. Mtch the qulity to the needs of the niml Psture finishing requires top qulity forge! 3. Wter content cn e chllenge Psture vs. silge The Gret Forge Compromise s yield increses, forge qulity decreses Reltive Qulity & Yield Mx protein, NFC, minerls, (lef), DIGESTIBILITY, INTAKE cell wll, lignin (stem) Yield curve grze hy Life Cycles 1. Annul 1 yer life cycle Die fter flowering nd seed set Some hve spring nd winter types Exmples: smll grins, corn, sorghum, millets, some clovers, rdish 2. Biennil 2 yer life cycle Vegettive only in Yer 1, flower nd die fter exposure to cold period (Yer 2) Exmples: most rssics, sweetclover Min Phse 1 Phse 2 Phse 3 vegettive oot hed loom seed (grsses) vegettive ud loom seed (lflf) 3. Perennil Do not die fter flowering My live only 2-3 yers or for much longer Cn e used s living mulch Exmples: red clover, lflf, kur clover Four Functionl Plnt Groups 1. Cool-seson grsses Grow est in cool wether (spring nd fll) High potentil forge qulity Ots, whet, rye, triticle, rley, nnul nd Itlin ryegrss 2. Wrm-seson grsses Optiml growth during hot wether (dys nd nights) Poor germintion in cold soil (< 6 F) Good drought tolernce Corn, sorghum, sudngrss, millets, teff 3. Legumes Brodlef plnts with root rhizoil symionts tht fix nitrogen from ir High potentil forge qulity Cool-seson: lflf, clovers, field pes Wrm-seson: soyens, dry ens, cowpes, lentils, sunn hemp 4. Fors Brodlef plnts tht don t fix nitrogen Forge rssics, sunflower, uckwhet % of totl yield Sesonl Yield Distriution of Forge Groups cool seson Month wrm seson Mr Apr My June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Multiply % of yield y expected dry mtter yield to clculte estimted forge vilility in l/cre Kim Cssid, MSUE, cssid@msu.edu 4

5 Smll Grins Whet (Triticum estivum L.) Brley (Hordeum vulgre L.) Ots (Aven stiv L.) Rye (Secle cerele L.) Triticle (X Triticosecle Wittmck) + Good yield potentil + Excellent forge qulity when vegettive + Esy to estlish, tillge or no-till + Comptile with dul cropping systems Erly spring forge Extending fll grzing seson - Must e plnted every yer - Disorders: lot (especilly whet), nitrtes Comptile with nnul clovers, red clover, field pes USES: psture, hy, hylge, grin Smll Grin Mngement s Forges Dys to hrvest: 6 to 9 When to plnt: April to Octoer Seeding rte: 8 to 12 l/cre Potentil DMY: 1.5 to 3.5 ton DM/A over 1 2 cuts Forge qulity: moderte to excellent My 3, 213 Greter forge qulity when grown in cool versus wrm wether 1) Cool wether delys mturity 2) Cool wether increses WSC ccumultion in ots (up to 24%) Ots with turnips Whet/Rye Mixtures for Erly Spring Forge Forge Yield Whet/Rye Mixtures for Erly Spring Forge Forge Qulity 7 75 Dry Forge Yield, ton/cre My Jun totl Percentge Whet in Seed Mix Dry Forge Yield, ton/cre My Jul totl Percentge Whet in Seed Mix Whet nd rye seeded in :1, 25:75, 5:5, 75:25, nd 1: rtios y weight Three seeding rtes: 8, 1, nd 12 l/cre Crude Protein, % NDF, % Percentge Whet in Seed Mix Percentge Whet in Seed Mix NDFD, % RFQ, % Percentge Whet in Seed Mix Percentge Whet in Seed Mix 213 cut cut cut cut 2 Itlin nd Annul Ryegrss (Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lm.) Husnot) Itlin ryegrss, requires vernliztion for heding (iennil or short lived perennil) Annul (Westerwolds) ryegrss (Lolium multiflorum westerwoldicum), no vernliztion required + High yield potentil Excellent regrowth + Excellent pltility nd qulity + Excellent seedling vigor nd regrowth Very competitive + Tolertes close, frequent grzing & wet soils + Reseeds redily Winterhrdiness vries gretly y vriety Potentil weed in croplnd rottions Comptile with most legumes USES: psture, hylge, turfgrss, cover crop, NOT recommended for hy Mnging Annul & Itlin Ryegrss Dys to hrvest: 6 dys fter plnting, 3 45 dys for regrowth When to plnt: April Septemer Seeding rte: 1 2 l/cre Potentil DMY: ton/a over multiple cuts Forge qulity: excellent Effective termintion requires: 1. glyphoste + mmonium sulfte ppliction efore ryegrss is 6 inches tll 2. ir tempertures over 45 F for three dys Kim Cssid, MSUE, cssid@msu.edu 5

6 Sorghum, Sudngrss, nd Hyrids Annul wrm seson unchgrsses Forge sorghum [Sorghum icolor (L.) Moench] (gretest yield nd HCN risk) Sudngrss [S. icolor vr. sudnense] (est qulity, lowest yield, lest HCN) Sorghum x sudngrss hyrids (sudx, sudex) Seed t 2 3 l/cre + Fst dependle estlishment (4 6 wk to hrvest) + High yield potentil (1 3 cuttings) + Good forge qulity + Brown midri trit increses digestiility ut decreses yield (lodging) + Used s emergency corn silge sustitute when corn plnting is delyed (energy = 8% of corn silge) Requires wrm soil t plnting (> 6 F) Requires HOT wether for est growth - Reltively short growing seson in MI - Disorders: prussic cid, nitrte, cystitis (horses) USES: Hylge, green chop, hy, psture, cover crop, grin Mngement of Sorghums s Forge Dys to hrvest: 45 to 9 When to plnt: 6 65 F soil temperture Seeding rte: 5 25 l/a sorghum, 2 l sudx, 25 l sudngrss Potentil DMY: ton DM/A in 1 2 cuts (MI), up to 1 ton/a reported Forge qulity: ~8% of corn silge (more protein, less energy), est with rown midri vrieties Nitrte toxicity 1) NO 3 ccumultes when soil N is high nd plnt growth is slow (cool or drought) 2) Ensiling reduces NO 3 y ~5% 3) NO 3 is not reduced in hy Prussic cid toxicity 1) Not n issue in FULLY CURED hy nd silge 2) Avoid grzing immture (new shoots < 18 long) or wilted sorghums New Developments in Forge Sorghums Dwrf vrieties with BMR 6 genetics High sugr, high fier digestiility Arguly etter nutrient profile for diry cttle thn conventionl sorghum Reduced lodging Plnted t greter densities (25 l/cre versus 5 1) nd nrrower rows (6 inches) Hrvestle forge in?28 dys? Teff Grss (T ef, Tef) (Ergrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter.) Wrm seson nnul grss Seed t 4 6 l/cre + Dul purpose forge nd grin + Yields up to 3.6 ton/a in MI in 3 cuts + Good forge qulity + Fits in fter whet doule crop system, hrvest y 45 dys fter plnting + Acceptle to horse hy mrket - Very smll seed requires excellent seeded prep (coted seed ville) - Killed y frost - Shllow roots uproot esily USES: Hy, hylge, psture, cover crop, grin Millets Wrm seson nnul unchgrsses Perl (Ct til ) millet [Pennisetum glucum (L.) R.Br.] Jpnese (rnyrd) millet (Echinochlo frumentce Link) Proso (hog, roomcorn) millet (Pnicum miliceum L.) Foxtil millet [Setri itlic (L.) P. Beuv.] Seed t 1 3 l/cre + Similr to sorghums, without the prussic cid + Brown midri vrieties ville (perl millet) + Jpnese millet tolertes cold, poorly drined soil Yield ~2% less thn sorghums Most require well drined wrm soils - Foxtil millet should not e fed to horses - Disorders: nitrtes, utterft depression (perl millet) USES: Psture, hylge, green chop, hy, cover crop, grin Grzing Corn (Mize) (Ze mys L.) Wrm-seson nnul unchgrss + Vrieties designed to produce lef, not grin + Fst growth + High yield potentil Very high nutrient requirement Nitrte toxicity Hyrid seed - Biotechnology trited seeds re expensive nd my require specific mngement protocols USES: silge, green chop, psture Stockpiled perlmillet for winter grzing, erly Jnury Kim Cssid, MSUE, cssid@msu.edu 6

7 Annul Clovers Crimson clover Crimson (T. incrntum L.) Arrowlef (T. vesiculosum Svi.) Berseem (T. lexndrinum L.) Blns (T. michelnium L.) nd mny other species + Rpid estlishment for doulecropping + Limited reseeding ility (crimson) + Cn e doulecropped with ermudgrss - Must e replnted every yer - Most hve poor cold tolernce - Disorders: lot, phytoestrogens (esp. suclover) Comptile with smll grins USES: Cover crop, psture, hy, hylge Pes nd Bens Cool seson nnul: Field pe [Pisum stivum L.) Austrin winter pe (winterhrdy) Cndin spring pe Wrm seson nnul: Forge soyens + Fst estlishment nd growth, good yields + High N fixtion, rpid degrdtion in soil + Hollow stems dry esily for hy + High forge qulity Require nnul replnting Soyens require wrm soil t plnting Lrge seed prevents rodcst plnting - Susceptile to diseses (rotte sites) - Vining hit of pes requires compnion for support (usully smll grins) - Disorders: Blot USES: hy, hylge, grzing, cover crop, humn food Brssics (cole crops, cruciferous plnts) Most re iennil fors, olting in second yer Seed t 4 (turnip) 1 (rdish) l cre + Fst growth & high yield potentil + Outstnding cold tolernce excellent for fll stockpiling + Outstnding forge qulity + Psture finishing lm ADG of.24 to.55 l/d Will not tolerte poorly drined soil or flooding High fertility requirement (N, P, K, B) High moisture content (up to 95% wter) Too low in effective fier to support good rumen function - Disorders: ALL RARE, lot, nitrtes, photosensitiztion, glucosinoltes, kle poisoning (hemolytic nemi) especilly in gots nd sheep Uses: Psture, cover crop, iofumignt, oilseed, vegetle, condiment, ornmentl Brssic species Turnips (B. rp L. vr. rp) 6 dys to grzing Buls ( roots ) high in strch nd sugr Leves high in protein nd sugr Rdish (Rphnus stivus L.) 6 dys to grzing Stule types - lrge root tht reks through compcted susoils Forge types - less root, more lef, improved regrowth potentil Diry heifers on rpe/nnul ryegrss mix Kellogg Biologicl Center, Octoer Lms grzing turnips/rdish/ots mix, Nov. 3, Michign Brssic species Swedes (B. npus L.) Similr to turnip ut much longer (9-12 d) to grzing Rpe nd Cnol (B. npus L.) 6-9 dys to grzing Good regrowth if stems re left (regrows from lef nodes) Kle nd Collrds (B. npus L.) Reltively slow growth (9-12 dys to grzing) Lms grzing turnips/rdish/ots mix, Nov. 3, Michign Brssic Mngement Dys to hrvest: 6 9 dys When to plnt: April August Seeding rte: 3 4 l/a Potentil DMY: new rpe kle hyrids, up to 5.5 ton DM/cre Forge qulity: excellent, similr to corn Excellent psture Ensile only if mixed with higher DM forge to improve fermenttion nd reduce effluent Heifers grzing Winfred rpe t KBS Cndin producers report tht cnol mkes poor hy t ripe seed stge Brssics should never e fed s the only forge ecuse they re too low in effective fier. Alwys provide hy, intercropped grss, or ccess to permnent psture. Kim Cssid, MSUE, cssid@msu.edu 7

8 Hrvest Windows for Brssic Species Weeks from seeding to hrvest Rdish (1 2 grzings?) Turnip (1 2?) Rpe/turnip/kle hyrids (1 2) Forge Rpe (1 2) Kle (1) Collrds (1) Swedes (1) Biomss (l DM/cre) Biomss (l DM/cre) Ots Ots Est Lnsing Brssic Brssic 41 d fter plnting 33 d regrowth 3-d regrowth Poor for pure rpes, ut ots filled in the gp Similr for turnips, turnip-rpe hyrids, nd rdish Brssic forge qulity Nutritive vlue of rssic forge compred to grss psture, lflf psture, corn silge, nd corn grin DM, % CP, % NDF, % NFC, % Turnip lef Turnip root Forge rpe Grss psture Alflf psture Corn silge Corn grin Brssics re high moisture concentrtes Why Use Forge Mixtures? PRO 1. Legumes fix N for the grsses nd fors to use fter legumes decy nd improve forge qulity 2. Often get more yield thn pure stnds 3. Complementry growth hits help keep ground covered while minimizing competition 4. Adjust for sptil vrition in site chrcteristics forges cn sort themselves out ccording to preferences 5. Even out forge vilility over the entire growing seson 6. Extend expected stnd life CON 1. Mixtures re more difficult to mnge for precise nutritive vlue (i.e. diry qulity) components re inherently different proportions chnge over time 2. No good post emerge chemicl weed control options for legume/grss mixtures How to Mke Simple Seed Mix Seeding trget is to plce 75 1 live seeds/ft 2 Plnt mixtures out 2% higher seeding rte thn for pure components ecuse direct competition is less (im for 9 12 seeds/ft 2 ) Split the single species seeding rte s desired for ech component, NOT the percentge of the mix! Rememer to djust for pure live seed if your seed source is not gret % PLS = % purity x % germintion / 1 Species Exmple: 2 wy mix, 5:5 proportion y species Single species seeding rte (l/a) Mixture seeding rte (l/a) 12% Rte (l/a) % of mix Alflf Orchrdgrss TOTAL Species Exmple: four wy mix, 25% ech species Single species seeding rte (l/a) Mixture seeding rte (l/a) 12% Rte (l/a) % of mix Alflf Orchrdgrss White clover Tll fescue TOTAL Kim Cssid, MSUE, cssid@msu.edu 8

9 Cover Crops s Hylge fter Whet Tretment Sequence Cover Crops for Hylge fter Whet Yer 1 Winter whet hrvest July strw left in field Yer 1 Cover crop (plnt July) Hrvest hlf (6 DAP) Leve hlf s cover Yer 2 Corn grin Forge DMY (ton/cre) Cover Crop Forge 6 D fter plnting 2.5 * Error rs re LSD vlues w w w w w.5. Cold, wet wether in July/Aug does not help grow wrm seson covers Fertilizer t cover plnting would hve oosted forge yield Corn Grin, u/cre Corn Yields Following Cover Hrvest Not cut Cut Removing cover crop iomss did not reduce corn yields * Error rs re LSD vlues. Fllow cut plots were clered using glyphoste. Cover Crops fter Whet Forge Qulity Percentge RFQ RFV All cover crops except ot pe nd red clover lso contined considerle mounts of volunteer whet Crohydrte frction, % Crude Protein, % lignin undf - lignin dndf NFC High energy cover crops for grss finished Beef Forge tretments 1. grss legume psture (control) 2. simple mix ots, rpe 3. complex mix ots, rpe, turnip, pes, itlin ryegrss Red Angus steers Grzed for 8 wk in fll Crcss dt collected 48 hr post mortem Kim Cssid, MSUE, cssid@msu.edu 9

10 Forge Anlysis Finl Body Weight (shrunk) Tle 2. Men iomss, grzing intensity, nd nutritive vlue of mixed perennil, simple nnul mix, nd complex nnul mix over 64-dy psture-finishing period. MIX 1 SIMPLE COMPLEX Men weekly ville iomss, l DM/cre Grzing intensity, % DM, % NDF, % ADF, % Steers in MIX were given ccess to 4 cres Finl Body Weight, l Three yer comprison of finl ody weights fter 7-d finishing period under the sme mngement MIX SIMP COMP Tretment Diet Group 165 Averge Dily Gin Dressing Percentge Averge Dily Gin (l/d) Three yer comprison of verge dily gins fter 7 d finishing period under the sme mngement c 2.13 MIX SIMP COMP Tretment Diet Group Dressing Percent, % Three yer comprison of dressing percent fter 7-d finishing period under the sme mngement c Tretment Diet Group 56.9 MIX SIMP COMP Crcss Chrcteristics For 214 nd 215, no psture diet effect on: Rieye re Bckft thickness Kidney/pelvic/hert ft Yield score Mrling score 5 In 215, no differences for toughness or color, ut feedlot cttle hd greter mrling score Mrling Score Choice MIX SIMP COMP FLOT SE = 15.2, P.1 Questions? Kim Cssid cssid@msu.edu Kim Cssid, MSUE, cssid@msu.edu 1