Grazing Cover Crop Wheat and Wheat for Grain to Maximize Soil Health and Returns

Abstract Grazing Cover Crop Wheat and for Wheat Grain July 2024 Kentucky producers typically establish over 500,000 acres of winter wheat annually as a grain, winter cover, or forage crop for animal agriculture (NASS, 2024). The majority of the wheat is managed for grain production, however an opportunity exists to increase the utilization and value of some wheat acreage for dual purposes by including grain with animal production. Faculty with disciplines in Animal Nutrition, Forages, and Soil Science are working collaboratively on this project to determine the feasibility of including cattle into this row crop production system. Cattle will be rotationally grazed on wheat grown for grain or a cover crop. Yield will be collected and compared to ungrazed wheat. Double crop soybean will follow the wheat and yield of the subsequent crop will be collected and compared to the ungrazed wheat. Soil health parameters and soil physical properties such as soil bulk density and penetrometer resistance measurements will be collected to determine how grazing cattle and grazing intensity influenced these variables. This data will help to guide additional research that should be conducted to support the inclusion of beef cattle into a wheat-containing row crop production system to improve soil health and profits for Kentucky wheat producers.