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

Commodities

Practices

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.

• Increase yield per acre of
  nutrient-dense, highly digestible forage 
• Increase soil organic
  matter
• Increase water quality in
  surrounding streams and ponds
• Decrease fossil fuel usage by
  utilizing no-till farming practice 
• Reduce the amount of commercial
  fertilizer through the use of manure 
• Serve as a demonstration site
  for local farmers to learn how to implement no-till and cover
  crop practices effectively 
• Educate local farmers on the
  benefits of cover crops 
• Show cattle producers the
  benefits of different forages 
• Demonstrate a three-crop
  rotation that can be replicated by local farmers 
• Evaluate the differences in
  nutritional value and digestibility in 3 different
  forages