“This project provided a 'first look' at how legume cover crops might function in our crop rotations," says Texas A&M AgriLife Extension agronomist Reagan Nolan, discussing his search for cover crop mixes that can help meet the challenges of farming in western Texas.
Nolan wanted to explore whether legume cover crops could be incorporated into crop rotations to improve soil health or produce supplemental forage. Using two Southern SARE On-Farm research grants, Nolan paired with four local farms to compare the performance of cowpea and sunn hemp mixes for the warm season. Mixes of Austrian winter peas and sweet clover were compared for the cool seasons.
While the research didn’t produce a one-size-fits-all recommendation, Noland is encouraged by the results. "The cover crop practices tested … demonstrate the potential to provide high-quality forages to supplement livestock production during critical periods."
SARE’s 2023/2024 Report from the Field, a biennial report, illustrates how Nolan and many other SARE grantees are conducting producer-driven research to find new innovations that sustain agriculture. Stories in Report from the Field that demonstrate how SARE grantees are improving the sustainability of U.S agriculture include:
- Breeding Better, More Resilient Squash Varieties in the Southeast
- Supporting Farm Businesses with Financial Planning and Education
- Finding the Right Cover Crop Mix in West Texas
- Training Farmers to Confront Racism and Inequity in Our Food Systems
- Incorporating Brassicas into Forage Systems Leads to Longer Grazing Seasons and Lower Methane Emissions
- Sustaining Maine’s Potato Farms Using Alternative Crop Rotations
- Reducing Goat Herd Predation in New Mexico
- Improving Tribal Food Sovereignty Through Mushroom Cultivation and Research
- Understanding Opportunities for Nutrient Recycling and Food Safety in the West
- Bringing Nutritious Options to Food Deserts
- Scaling up Value-Added Local Food in Ohio
- Shedding Light on Ranchers’ Views of Grassland Conservation Payments
Download or order your free print copy of 2023/2024 Report from the Field at https://sare.org/report or by calling (301) 779–1007. 2023/2024 Report from the Field is available in quantity for free to educators for use in educational workshops, classes or tours.
View Related SARE Grants:
- Advancing the Frontier of Legume Cover Crops and Building Integrated System Resilience in Semi-arid West Texas (OS19-131)
- Strategic Management of Legume Cover-forage Crops to Optimize Utility in a Challenging Environment (OS20-138)