Cover crops on livestock operations

Authors:
  • MBMaria Bowman
    Maria Bowman
  • MAMaroua Afi
    Maroua Afi
  • ABAubree Beenken
    Aubree Beenken
  • ABAmy Boline
    Amy Boline
  • MDMary Drewnoski
    Mary Drewnoski
  • FKFernanda Souza Krupek
    Fernanda Souza Krupek
  • JPJay Parsons
    Jay Parsons
  • DRDaren D. (Daren Dean) Redfearn
    Daren D. (Daren Dean) Redfearn
  • SWSteven Wallander
    Steven Wallander
  • CWChristine Whitt
    Christine Whitt
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Abstract
Cover crops can provide environmental benefits, and their use is increasing across the United States. Cover crops can also be costly to implement. The literature suggests that for livestock operations, grazing or harvesting cover crops for forage can be profitable due to the forage benefit. However, a new analysis of Federal data shows that around 14 percent of cattle operations with cropland grew cover crops in 2017. Certain types of cattle operations are more likely to report cover crop use. Dairy and feedlot operations are more than twice as likely to use cover crops as cattle operations overall (33 percent of dairy and 27 percent of feedlot operations), and many operations with cover crops report grazing them or harvesting them for forage. In 2021, 72 percent of dairy operations and 89 percent of cowcalf operations with cover crops reported harvesting or grazing at least some cover crop acreage, which suggests the forage value of cover crops may be a driver of adoption on those operations. Finally, this report discusses the potential for integrating cover crops and livestock systems in the United States (as well as barriers) and presents several research opportunities that could address knowledge gaps