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Are cover crops necessary to establish a forage stand and help reduce weed competition?

April 26, 2017competition cover crops forage help necessary reduce stand weed

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Are cover crops necessary to establish a forage stand and help reduce weed competition?

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Cover crops compete with both the weeds and seedling forage crop. Light, nutrients and moisture are used by the cover crop. If a cover crop is used, seed at half the normal “crop” seeding rate (less than one bushel per acre), remove the cover crop as greenfeed or silage early to minimize competition. Cutting at the flowering to early milk stage is recommended. If possible, not using a cover crop creates a better environment for long-term forage production.