Class 2: Crop Rotation Planning for Dairy Farms

What is considered maybe the perfect crop rotation plan?

Eliot Coleman’s Crop Rotation for 8 years

What are the considerations for crop rotation for a dairy farm?

1. meet the feed requirements

2. specific soil/climate

3. equipment/labor availability

4. maximize efficiency of manure resources

5. minimize needs for pesticides, energy and soil erosion

Easiest crop rotations are used on farms using few crops

• may need a few rules of thumb

• cash grain farms

• big vegetable operations

It is more difficult to rotate with more crops and more soil types, crop season lengths, etc.

• crop mix is highly diverse

• different amounts of crops

• planted more than once per season

• fields vary for crops planted

Crop Rotation Plan for a Dairy Farm

1. Estimate feed requirements for all animals, milking herd and replacements

2. Estimate realistic production, yield and acreage

3. Adjust rations if necessary

4. Match crops to soil

5. Consider no till, cover crops, alternative methods

Considerations for Crop Rotation Planning

• potential feed shortages

• poor feed quality

• weather limitations

• efficient nutrient use

• pest and weed problems

• compaction and erosion risks

• leave windows for manure application