Written collaboratively by Gared Shaffer, Paul O. Johnson, David Karki, Anthony Bly, Ruth Beck and Sara Bauder
Silage is an important feed source for livestock producers in the state. However, silage harvesting removes residue and leaves soil exposed and susceptible to erosion. There are steps that producers can take to protect and improve the soil for future crops.
In the last ten years, crop producers in South Dakota have shown increased interest in cover crops. In South Dakota, there is usually time in the season to plant a cool season cover crop after corn silage harvest. Planting a cover crop can improve soil health by providing protection to soil, increasing plant variety and maintaining a living root for a longer timeframe.
