Utilizing Late Season Cover Crops to Extend the Grazing Season

Fields of bright green rye stand out among the mostly brown early spring fieldscape on Luke Hiebert’s crop and livestock farm northeast of Huron, South Dakota. 

“Traditionally, at this point in the season, nothing would be growing out in those fields. This is the reason I decided to plant rye,” said Hiebert, during an early April conversation. “It has been growing since last fall, and I like having a living root in the soil as long as possible. It helps with compaction, reduces erosion, increases water infiltration, builds organic matter and overall, improves soil health.” 

Hiebert is enrolled in the Covering America Program through our SustainAg Network. One of USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodity projects, this program supports farmers, as they implement holistic management techniques and soil health protocols. The program provides a premium for the sustainably grown rye – while also helping cover the costs associated with the late season, multi-species cover crop he plans to plant on the same acres for his cattle and sheep to graze late fall. Our Technical Advisors provide expert guidance throughout the process. 

“I and my wife, Briana are the third family trying to earn an income from this farm, so I need to look at value added opportunities because this farm is not large enough to support all of us,” explained the third-generation farmer who has been farming fulltime with his dad and uncle since he was 18. 

For nearly a decade, Hiebert has been working to expand his cow/calf herd by increasing on-farm access to forage by implementing an intensive, daily grazing rotation. Extending the grazing season with a late season cover crop is yet another way for him to maximize the farm’s forage production. 

Hiebert is among 278 producers from across the U.S. who make up AgSpire’s newly formed SustainAg Network of farmers and ranchers interested in adopting sustainable land and livestock management practices through programs like Covering America.  

South Dakota farmer poses in a rye field - which he planted to help improve his land during the winter months.

Hiebert said knowing that there is financial and technical help planting a late season cover crop motivated him to join The SustainAg Network and enroll in the Covering America Program. 

“I had been thinking about planting a late season cover crop, but I knew it would be more difficult to get it going and I was not ready to invest in the risk,” Hiebert said. “With SustainAg Network, I have financial assistance, and because I don’t have a lot of experience planting cover crops, I appreciate the fact I also have access to a Technical Advisor.” 

By Lura Roti for AgSpire

Learn More: 

About AgSpire

AgSpire provides customized solutions for those who want to create positive land-use outcomes. The organization was founded in 2021 from the passion to amplify the implementation of positive land use practices, resulting in tangible and quantifiable outcomes for the environment and our society. AgSpire specializes in strategy and implementation of regenerative agriculture solutions for clients in the food, agricultural, and natural resource space and solves for an increasingly complex agricultural landscape in need of balanced short-term efficiency and long-term viability.

Keep Reading

All News

Converting Marginal Cropland with Perennial Plantings 

“I love the perennial systems for resiliency – perennial grasses weather the extremes much better than row crops,” said MN Farmer and Rancher Mitch Pederson. “With perennial grasses, I no longer need to fight against Mother Nature. When we get rains, the grasses will help with water infiltration and when we are faced with drought, the perennial roots will tap into water below the soil’s surface.”

May 29, 2024

Interseeding Pastures for Increased Biodiversity

Increasing grassland diversity has a positive impact on soil health, while also improving the overall health of grazing cattle. “Cattle thrive on grass because every species of grass matures at a different time. By increasing species diversity, there will be quality forage for cattle throughout the grazing season.”

May 29, 2024

SustainAg Network Connects Farmers & Ranchers with Funding for Producer-Led Conservation Practices

Fields of bright green rye stand out among the mostly brown early spring fieldscape on Luke Hiebert’s crop and livestock farm northeast of Huron, South Dakota. “Traditionally, at this point in the season, nothing would be growing out in those fields. This is the reason I decided to plant rye,” said Hiebert, during an early April conversation. “It has been growing since last fall, and I like having a living root in the soil as long as possible. It helps with compaction, reduces erosion, increases water infiltration, builds organic matter and overall, improves soil health.”

Apr 15, 2024

Scope 3 Emissions - Do they still matter?

While many expected the SEC to follow California’s lead related to Scope 3 disclosures, the final SEC ruling excluded a proposed requirement that companies report Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. What does this mean for the future of Scope 3? In a victory for ag, producers may now be safe from providing annual farm-level data to companies far up the value chain. However, more likely than not, Scope 3 at large will continue to remain important for major companies with ag-based supply chains.

Apr 2, 2024

Navigating the Future of Meat: The Role of Sustainability in Driving Business Success

While the sustainability conversation is more established in row crop agriculture, it took center stage among livestock stakeholders. Amid the discussions and presentations, a compelling narrative emerged, one that underscores a pivotal moment for the meat sector. The industry stands at the cusp of a transformative opportunity, where the integration of sustainability practices into business models is a strategic business imperative. This “sustainability flywheel” concept—where investments in sustainability drive meat product sales, which in turn, fuel further sustainability investments—has become a tangible pathway to resilience and growth in difficult economic times.

Apr 2, 2024

Enhancing Biodiversity: The Critical Role of Grazing 

Biodiversity is more than a buzzword. It is a critical component of shaping the future of healthy and productive working lands. At AgSpire, we believe that understanding and harnessing biodiversity is not merely about compliance; it’s about adopting a transformative approach that elevates the land’s productivity and resilience for future generations.

Jan 26, 2024

Planning Your 2024 Scope 3 Approach

With only a handful of growing seasons left until 2030 – the deadline for many companies to achieve their near-term science-based targets – even the smallest component of your scope 3 approach needs to have purpose and value. Read more for three ways to ensure you are moving into 2024 with focus and impact.

Dec 20, 2023

Leveraging Alternative Funding Mechanisms

RCPP, CIG, CIS, IRA - each of these acronyms represent funding opportunities to help accelerate adoption of climate-smart practices on farms and ranches around the country. Leveraging available funding provides greater support to producers, while expanding the impact of private sustainability investments.

Dec 20, 2023

Meeting Farmers and Ranchers Where They Are

The AgSpire team has traveled around the country to meet with producers, leading recruitment for our program portfolio. This boots-on-the-ground approach has given us the opportunity to meet with hundreds of farmers and ranchers, learning first-hand about their goals, motivations, and barriers to sustainable practice adoption. These efforts have revealed several key takeaways.

Dec 20, 2023

First Practices Implemented Under USDA Climate-Smart Commodities Programs

As the implementation of the USDA Climate-Smart Commodities Programs gets underway, Derek and the rest of the AgSpire technical team are working with farmers and ranchers to adopt new practices. On this farm, Derek used soil samples to show the impact that cover crops have on soil health.

Nov 27, 2023