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Companion Crops
Companion crops such as flax, wheat, oats and barley are often used with new grass and legume seedings. The decision whether or not to use a companion crop should be based on soil moisture, availability of irrigation water, and need for soil erosion and weed control. Flax is the least competitive of the companion crops. Wheat is a good companion crop if it does not lodge. Early maturing oats for grain or oats removed for hay or silage are also satisfactory. Barley often lodges in areas where moisture is plentiful and where soils are highly fertile. However, barley has been shown to be the highest-quality forage and may make the best small-grain companion crop if harvested for forage in the boot or very early heading stage. Generally, legumes establish better than grasses when seeded with a companion crop.
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