The Cattle Farmer
intercropping
Extend Your Grazing Season
Learn from ranchers across Western Canada who are using intercropping to keep the soil covered, improve farm profitability, provide a balanced feed ration (energy & protein) & extend the grazing season.
The round-up-ready Forage Soybeans makes this an easy-to-implement strategy.
Intercropping 101
Corn silage/forage soybeans
Planted as an intercropping companion with your corn, Forage Soybeans LS contain the round-ready herbicide trait, which makes this an easy-to-implement intercropping strategy to increase protein in your silage pile & provide extended grazing/residual nitrogen.
Intercrop: Oats/Hairy Vetch
Theory: The oats (cool-season grass) provides a micro-climate for the vetch (cool-season legume). In return, the vetch protects the soil and provides late-season nitrogen to the system.
Value To The Farm: Extended Grazing
Intercrop: Corn/Hairy Vetch
Theory: After 3 years research, we have concluded the ideal direction to seed is North/South. In the heat of the day, sunlight is able to penetrate the North/South rows, providing the vetch with enough sunlight to establish.
Value To The Farm: Extended Grazing
Intercrop: Sunflower/Hairy Vetch
Theory: The sunflower (warm season broadleaf) provides a micro-climate for the vetch (cool season legume). In return, the vetch protects the soil and provide late season nitrogen to the system.
Value To The Farm: Extended Grazing