Establishing forage crops: key considerations for success
Establishing听forage听crops: Key听considerations for听success听
Forage crops听e.g. rape, kale and stubble turnips听provide livestock farmers听with valuable听feed for cattle and sheep when grass growth is limited.听Successful establishment depends on careful planning, from field听selection听and soil preparation through to grazing management.听
听Why听grow听forage听crops?听
Forage crops听offer an excellent solution to filling the forage gap in the autumn and winter months when grass growth is limited, helping to听extend听grazing,听and reducing听winter feed and bedding costs. In addition, they act as a break crop and听benefit听the ground by increasing organic matter.听
Forage听crop听uses听
Different forage crops suit different grazing periods. Stubble turnips and forage rape are commonly used for autumn grazing, while kale, swedes and fodder beet are more suitable for winter feeding.听
Soil听health听benefits听
Forage crops听also听make a significant contribution to soil health. Brassicas such as kale, forage rape and turnips develop taproots that help loosen soils, while deeper-rooting species such as forage rye can penetrate compacted layers and improve drainage.听
Soil organic matter is improved by crop root biomass and grazing residues;听water-holding capacity听is also improved,听as well as听nutrient retention and biological activity.听Additional听benefits听are provided听by increasing root diversity and soil biodiversity听through the use of听multi-species forage mixtures.听The grazing of forage crops should be well planned to ensure that soil health benefits are听attained. For example, poorly planned grazing may lead to excessive poaching and听subsequent听damage to soil structure听
Selecting the听right听field听
Selecting a suitable field is听crucial to听the successful use of forage crops.听When selecting a field consider:听
- Fields with sandy soils, good soil drainage and gentle slopes are preferable.听
- Avoid steeply sloping fields or those close to watercourses.听
- Ensure there is adequate shelter for livestock and protection from extreme weather.听
- Consider where to position a run-back area (a dry area where stock have access to听allow for adequate lying time).听
- Think about accessibility and water supply.听
To minimise disease risks, brassicas should not be continuously grown in the same area. A gap of four to five years (in drier areas) or seven to eight years (in wetter areas) between crops is听advised.听听
Volunteer plants from听previous听crops and herbicide residues can hinder the establishment of forage crops by creating competition for light and nutrients and impeding germination.听Control weeds in the听previous听crop or apply a pre-emergence herbicide after drilling.听
Suitability of听different听soil听types for听forage听crops听
Soil听fertility and听preparation听
Soil testing should be carried out before sowing to assess pH and nutrient status听to ensure听maximum听crop performance听Most forage crops perform best at a soil听pH of 5.8-6.5. Where required, lime should be applied six to twelve months before establishment.听
Nutrient deficiencies should be corrected before sowing.听Particular attention听should be paid to phosphorus, potassium,听magnesium听and trace elements听as these aid root establishment and moisture uptake and retention.听Additionally, sulphur is increasingly important for forage production听as it helps with nitrogen utilisation, especially on lighter soils, while boron is essential for听root development in听brassicas.听听
The most practical way of applying these nutrients is by using a fertiliser that is听appropriate for听the conditions i.e. has been chosen based on soil test results and the type of crop to be grown.听Some nutrients can be applied via liming or foliar sprays (e.g. magnesium) depending on the soil/crop needs.听
Forage听crop听mixtures听
Interest in听mixtures of听forage听crops听continues to increase as farmers seek greater resilience and grazing flexibility.听听
Combining brassicas with cereals, grasses or legumes can improve dietary balance, extend grazing听periods听and enhance soil health.听Brassicas provide highly digestible, energy-rich forage, while cereals and grasses contribute fibre and help听maintain听rumen function.听Mixtures听of crops听also improve root diversity and resilience to variable weather conditions.听
Establishment听
Sowing听of forage crops听should be timed so that crop maturity aligns with the intended grazing period. Soil temperature is important, with many forage crops performing best when temperatures are around 10掳C.听
Young forage crops are vulnerable to competition from weeds and damage from pests and diseases. They have听relatively small听root systems and limited leaf area, making them poor competitors with established weeds. In severe weed infestations, weed competition can lead to patchy crop establishment and increased production costs. Common weeds include chickweed, fat听hen听and volunteer cereals, while common pests include flea beetles, slugs,听leatherjackets听and aphids.听听
Effective control relies on an integrated approach that may include stale seedbeds, crop rotation, competitive crop mixtures, targeted herbicide use and听maintaining听good crop nutrition. It is more effective to intervene early than to have to treat established problems.听
Creating a competitive forage crop is one of the most effective long-term weed management strategies. Vigorous crops are better able to suppress emerging weeds by intercepting sunlight and making more efficient use of available soil moisture and nutrients.听
Establishment听costs听
The cost of听establishing听forage crops听varies听according to cultivation method, fertiliser requirements, seed听choice听and machinery use. Typical costs range from听approximately 拢250听to 拢850 per hectare.听听
Typical听establishment听costs
- Seed and fertiliser are typically the largest variable costs and together can account for听40鈥�60% of the total establishment cost.听
- Correcting soil pH and nutrient deficiencies before sowing often听represents听one of the best returns on investment, improving crop establishment and nutrient use efficiency.听
- Additional听grazing infrastructure, such as temporary fencing and water supply, should also be included when calculating the听true cost听of forage crop establishment, particularly where crops are intended for strip grazing.听
Five top tips听for听growing success听
- Select sheltered,听relatively flat听fields with light to medium, free draining soils.听
- Soil test and seek advice from your local consultant and or agronomist on the best crop types and varieties.听听听
- Remove and control weeds from the听previous听crop.听
- Ensure good crop rotation to avoid clubroot disease in brassica crops.听
- Ensure the field offers shelter for the grazing stock.
Kieran Nolan, Consultant, Kieran.Nolan@sac.co.uk听
Posted by SAC Consulting on 21/07/2026
