Around the County Extension News

Winter cereal crops are becoming more popular across the county and provide an excellent feed source for cattle. The benefits include the reduced amount of hay needed in fall to early winter. If the snow amounts stay low cattle can easily feed on winter cereals well past Thanksgiving if the stocking rate requirements are followed. This management practice will provide benefits to the soil and put on added pounds to calves while saving on hay supplies.

The use of winter annual cereals to promote soil health properties and suppress annual weeds has become more of the normal for many farmers in U.S., says North Dakota State University Extension specialists. Winter cereals provide green, active-growing plants during the fall and early-winter periods and are the first to green up in the spring. Winter cereals extend the growing season of living plant roots in the soil – feeding the soil microbiome – while providing an armor for the soil.

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