Study Identifies Forages for Slump Periods

Scientists with the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station studied alternative forages to find which performed best during the slump periods in early spring, late summer, and late fall. These are times when traditional forage crops slow their growth in northern New England. Researchers tested several alternative forages, evaluating them on biomass production and nutritional value, including when they were planted in a mixture. In their testing, barley and triticale performed well during the early spring slump, Japenese millet in mid- to late-summer, and canola in early fall. The goal of the study was to identify cover crops that would work well for grazing as supplements to traditional forages during periods of slow growth.