Managing for Profit

Cover crops fill grazing, conservation need

Brian Martin sees high value in experimenting, such as in cover crops for grazing.  He and his father experimented during the drought of 2012 when the corn crop produced more forage than it did grain.  Cover crops had a two-fold purpose and value.

“It’s a combination of erosion control, and then the benefit of added forage at a time when there’s nothing else to graze,” Martin told Brownfield Ag News.

Another experimentation opportunity Martin took advantage of was during the 2015 growing season.  Because of an exceptionally wet spring that year, Missouri, where Martin farms, had a million and a half prevent plant acres.  Martin took the opportunity to plant a few different species of cover crops; some of which worked better than others, giving him valuable information on what to plant in the future.

AUDIO: Brian Martin (3 min. MP3)