An annual ryegrass cover crop is excellent at scavenging nitrogen, improving soil structure, and preventing erosion. It tolerates low light levels well enough to be inter-seeded into an established corn crop and grows quickly enough with adequate moisture to help suppress weeds. For ruminant producers, ryegrass is exceptionally palatable to livestock and can provide high-quality grazing, baleage, or haylage.
In recent years, many grain farmers have moved away from using annual ryegrass as a cover crop due to termination issues. While it is not the right fit for every operation, a better understanding of ryegrass genetics and management may keep this shade-tolerant cover crop on the options list and make it easier to kill ahead of the next crop. |READ MORE
