Grain Guide 2018

Besides the benefit to livestock integration there are numerous other economic and environmental benefits. After maize or soybeans, or late in the growing season (as a winter cover crop or relay intercrop)  Relay intercropping is the technique of sowing winter cover crops in a mature grain crop. The cover crops germinate and grow slowly under the crop canopy (see Photo 2 ).  When the maize/soybeans are harvested in autumn or winter, the cover crops are already established and the growth resumes, which saves valuable time.  The intercrop will usually grow much more throughout the winter and spring than any cover crop sowed after the grain harvest. The following cover crops can be used in this way (preferably in a mixture):  Grasses: Cereal rye, annual ryegrass, wheat, oats or triticale (see Photo 1 ).  Brassicas: Oilseed or Tillage radish or turnips.  Legume: Vetch. photo 3 photo 2 31 29 Seed