industry
potential. Forage sorghum is best suited for silage
production. Prussic acid can also be a concern
in forage sorghum under similar conditions as
sudangrass and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids.
OTHER STORABLE FORAGES
Other popular forage options include oat/
pea mixture or other grass/legume mixes. The
legumes in such mixes provides protein to the
mix at first cutting but can also add to seed
cost and should be weighed against the cost
of other protein supplements. Several other
additional combinations of storable forages are
available, but producers should take cost: benefit
ratios into account before making decisions.
Additional Information
In order to serve a dual purpose of improving
and protecting soil health, while providing high
quality livestock feed, we suggest the ‘take ½
leave ½’ approach in which livestock are allowed
to graze approximately 50%
of the above ground plant
matter before being moved to
the next paddock or pasture.
This allows the trampled or
ungrazed portions of the field to
provide cover, nutrient cycling,
and carbon for the field.
For producers seeking
additional grazing opportunities
or those who seek producers
with cattle to graze their
acres see the South Dakota
Grazing Exchange website,
which offers tools to connect
livestock producers with
forages. Grazing and feeding
restrictions from any previous
herbicide applications should
be considered before planting
a cover crop for grazing. LT
172 | JUNE/JULY 2019
RESOURCES
• S.D. Cover Crop Worksheet
and Mix Suggestions
• Selecting Cover Crops in South Dakota
• S.D. Grazing Exchange Website
• Multi-Peril Crop Insurance Article
• SDSU Extension Feed & Forage Finder
REFERENCES
• Ball, D.M., C.S. Hoveland, and G.D. Lacefield.
Editor: G. Sulewski. Forage Crop Pocket Guide
Reference #16069. 13th Printing. International
Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI). 2016.
• Sulc, Marc. Supplemental forage
Options For Early Summer Planting.
The Ohio State University. 2015.