Many farmers are seeding cover crops on preventive plant acres to increase water use and manage weeds. However, there is the opportunity to market this forage to livestock producers. The NDSU Feedlist (https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/feedlist/) can connect you with livestock producers in search of additional forage.

Many livestock producers in the region are short on forage following a long, cold winter and late spring that depleted forage supplies. Supplies in some areas have been further worsened due to low forage production, resulting from cool temperature and drought. The change in the allowable harvest on preventive plant acres provides an opportunity for livestock producers to replenish forage supplies, or at minimum, offset shortages in perennial forage production.

The recent change in allowable harvest or grazing date to September 1 on prevented planting acres creates flexibility, allowing for greater potential to use a cover crop mixture or for picking a plant species to fit your intended need. With an earlier release date, landowners can plant different mixtures that can be used for grazing, haying, or silage/haylage while providing soil health benefits.

Miranda Meehan

Extension Livestock Environmental Stewardship Specialist