By Scout Nelson
In the semiarid Great Plains, ongoing drought is increasingly causing crop failures and soil erosion. A recent North Central SARE Research and Education grant in Kansas has shown that integrating crops, livestock, and cover crops can help some farmers mitigate revenue loss and struggling crops.
Dr. Augustine Obour from Kansas State University collaborated with farmers on a long-term research project that explored the advantages of using cover crops in dryland wheat production.
The research revealed that grazing or harvesting cover crops for forage not only diversifies revenue streams but also helps protect soil from erosion.
Policymakers are now encouraging the practice of cover crop grazing, prompting farmers to adopt new methods aimed at boosting income, enhancing soil quality, and combating herbicide-resistant weeds.
This initiative has significantly improved environmental sustainability and revenue potential, increasing the production efficiency for farmers who embrace the integrated approach.
A recent evaluation of SARE projects funded between 2016 and 2019 indicated that collaborating with farmers to conduct on-farm research validated the project's results.
“Most grants don’t have a farmer requirement, but SARE does,” says Obour. “It is very helpful because farmers have different perspectives on what works and what doesn’t. You have to work with a farmer to determine what will work in their environment.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-mvburling
Categories: Kansas, Crops