Increasing Highly Digestible Forage Density per Acre Utilizing No-till, Cover Crops, and Manure Application

With a goal to use less land and
resources, we will research how to create more feed per acre so
fewer acres are needed to grow feed for our cows. No-till and
cover crop farming practices will use less energy and fossil
fuels while also reducing the amount of soil erosion on the
fields. We are looking for forages that are highly digestible and
allow the cows to more readily utilize nutrients. As a
demonstration site in Calmar, Iowa, we will plant a three-crop
rotation of triticale, cocktail forage mix, and corn silage.
Three local farmers will replicate this crop rotation on their
own acres of cropland. These farmers will operate medium-sized
dairy cattle operations and own cropland in northeast
Iowa. 

After each harvest, a sample will
be taken for a forage analysis. We will evaluate the differences
between the three forages in the rotation to determine which one
produces the best yield per acre, nutrient composition, and
digestibility rate. For education and outreach purposes, we will
be hosting a field day and writing a summary report of our
findings for local farmers and beyond to learn from our research
and adopt these practices themselves.