Survey and Economic Analysis of Montana Farms Utilizing Integrated Livestock-Cereal Grain (Ley Farming) Systems

Survey and Economic Analysis of Montana Farms Utilizing Integrated Livestock-Cereal Grain (Ley Farming) Systems

Summary

This project has completed the first phase of the work, i.e. survey of Montana farmers and ranchers. The research team has interviewed selected farmers and ranchers and assessed the successes and problems of the farms in practicing ley farming. Preliminary economic analysis has been conducted. Further economic analysis will be done after additional field data are collected. To increase producer’s knowledge in ley farming and test the adaptability of newly developed legume species, we established an on-farm demonstration study on an organic farmer’s land and a research and demonstration study at the CARC in 2007. An additional demonstration plot was set up on a conventional farm in the fall of 2008. A field day/crop tour was successfully organized on June 19, 2008.

Objectives/Performance Targets

1) Survey the current crop and livestock production systems in Montana and assess the awareness and knowledge of producers on Australian ley farming.
2) Conduct in-depth assessments on the successes and problems (agronomic and economic) of representative producers and farms practicing ley farming.
3) Demonstrate the adaptability of newly developed annual legume species, disseminate this information, and educate producers on the incorporation of these crops into their cropping systems.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Major accomplishments and milestones include:
1) Completed the survey on 4,200 Montana farmers and ranchers in 2007.
2) Survey results were presented in 2007 Western Society of Crop Science Annual Conference.
3) Interviewed selected Montana farmers and ranchers and assessed the successes and problems in practicing ley farming.
4) Established an on-farm demonstration plot and a research and demonstration study in 2007.
5) A field day/crop tour was successfully organized on June 19, 2008, at both the CARC research plot and the farmer’s field. Preliminary research results were presented at 2008 American Society of Agronomy Annual Conference.
6) The research team, including Chengci Chen, Dave Buschena, Jim Krall, and Roy Latta, had met during the 2008 field day to evaluate the progress and difficulties of the project.
7) In the research and demonstration study, second year’s winter wheat was planted to legume stubble and medic seed-pods collected from Wyoming were spread to the field to test the germination and establishment.
8) An additional on-farm demonstration plot was established in the fall of 2008 on a conventional (non-organic) farm.

Some detailed results are presented in the following:
In the research and demonstration study at the CARC, winter pea (Pisum sativum L.), winter lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), rigid medic (Medicago rigidula L.), and birds-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) were planted as both sole crop and mixture with winter wheat in the fall of 2007 to test the adaptability of these legumes and their compatibility with wheat, because for organic farmers there is no herbicide being used to control legume volunteers during the wheat phase of the rotation, winter wheat (or spring wheat) must be grown under the mixture with legume volunteers. Therefore, it is important to test the compatibility (or competition) of these legumes with wheat.
Medic and trefoil did not have a good emergence this year, therefore only pea and lentil data are presented. Pea and lentil yield decreased greatly in the intercrops compared to their sole crops, but wheat yield did not decrease greatly in the intercrops, especially when no N was applied (Fig.1).

The wheat and pea or wheat and lentil combined yield was greater than wheat sole crop when no N was applied (Fig.2). The Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) reached 1.5 and 1.6 for lentil-wheat and pea-wheat intercropping with no N applied (Fig.3). This indicates that pea and lentil intercropping with wheat increased the land use efficiency (LER>1), which is especially beneficial to organic farmers (without N application).
In conclusion,

1. Winter pea and lentil can survive the winter and adapt to the climate and soil conditions in Central Montana.
2. The total yields of intercrops were greater than sole wheat crop with 0N input, which is attractive to organic farmers.
3. Intercropping pea or lentil with wheat increased the land use efficiency when no nitrogen was applied. This result is very attractive to organic farmers. However, seed dormancy needs to be further evaluated before lentil can become a self-seeding legume for a ley-farming system.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Small grain and livestock production is important in the western region of the United States. About 43% of the farmers and ranchers in Montana have both grain and livestock production on their farms. They are continuously seeking for economically and environmentally sustainable integrated crop-livestock production systems. The newly developed winter pea and lentil cultivars have been tested and were proven to be able to adapt and survive the environment of central Montana. The field day at the Montana State University Central Agricultural Research Center as well as at farmer’s field attracted over 150 participants in 2008. Several farmers have accepted or indicated to be interested in the winter pea and lentil as rotation crops on their farms. The preliminary results of this study have been presented at the 2007 Western Society of Crop Science Annual Conference in Las Cruces, NM and the 2008 American Society of Agronomy Annual Conference in Houston, Tx.

Collaborators: