Polycrop forage blends are gaining popularity among beef producers for their ability to improve soil health, optimize grazing, enhance cattle performance, and boost resilience against unpredictable weather. However, success depends on location, climate conditions, and management strategies.
Why Polycrops Matter
Also known as cover crops, forage mixtures, or cocktail crops, polycrops promote plant diversity, leading to improved soil health, better water infiltration, reduced fertilizer dependency, and high-quality forage for cattle.
The Living Lab Central Prairies, part of the Agricultural Climate Solutions Program, integrates on-farm practices with research to explore sustainable solutions. A key focus is promoting polycrops, preventing land conversion, and improving grazing systems. Saskatchewan beef producers like Carmen Jackson, Erika Stewart, and John Griffin have experimented with polycrops, discovering both opportunities and challenges.
Carmen Jackson: Matching Crops to Goals
Carmen Jackson operates a 3,500-acre farm near Regina, Saskatchewan, where she carefully selects polycrop blends based on specific objectives.
One trial aimed to increase pasture biomass on saline, low-yielding land. She seeded a diverse polycrop blend and introduced late fall grazing, allowing cattle to trample forage into the soil, enriching organic matter and improving soil health. In another area used for backgrounding bulls, she implemented rotational grazing to extend the grazing season into summer and fall.
Working with an agrologist, she customizes blends for grazing or silage, prioritizing yield without compromising soil health. Economics also play a role—she selects cost-effective blends suited to her land’s productivity.
“Polycrops require ongoing refinement,” Carmen emphasizes. “You have to keep adjusting.”
Erika Stewart: Adapting to Unpredictable Conditions
Farming near Morse, Saskatchewan, Erika Stewart and her family continuously refine their polycrop strategy. Managing native grassland and cultivated areas for winter feed, they frequently face weather challenges, especially drought.
A successful polycrop trial in 2021 encouraged Erika to expand planting for silage in 2022. However, similar rainfall levels in 2023 resulted in poor yields and weed issues. “One year we had enough silage; the next, it wasn’t even worth swathing,” she recalls. Drought-stressed brassicas also led to high nitrate levels, requiring careful grazing management.
Despite setbacks, Erika remains committed to experimentation. She has introduced winter triticale for early spring grazing to allow perennial pastures more recovery time and plans to use polycrops during the breeding season as a high-quality forage source.
“You have to tweak things as you go,” she advises, stressing the importance of flexibility.
John Griffin: Context and Flexibility Are Key
John Griffin, farming near Central Butte and Bridgeford, Saskatchewan, uses polycrops for swath grazing and high-quality nutrition during the breeding season. Transitioning from a winter-calving purebred herd to a May-calving commercial herd, his polycrop results have been mixed.
Drought and grasshoppers caused complete crop failure in his first attempt. However, the Living Lab Central Prairies encouraged him to try again. Comparing a complex polycrop mix to a simple pea-cereal blend, he found the latter produced most of the biomass. Moving forward, he plans to use a simpler, more cost-effective mix.
John also uses polycrops strategically to maintain feed quality when native pastures decline. Research staff from the Living Lab program are monitoring soil health, providing insights into long-term benefits. Still, he emphasizes that local conditions must guide decision-making. “What works for one producer may not work for another,” he notes.
Research Insights: Start Small and Stay Flexible
Aklilu Alemu, a researcher with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and lead for the Living Lab Central Prairies, advises producers to take a measured approach to polycrops.
Three key recommendations:
- Moisture is critical – Success heavily depends on precipitation levels.
- Start simple – Use a straightforward mix to gain experience before expanding.
- Include at least 40% cereals – If other crops fail, cereals still provide essential biomass.
The Bottom Line: Learning Through Experience
The experiences of Carmen, Erika, and John illustrate that polycrops offer significant benefits but require careful management, adaptability, and patience. Some years yield exceptional forage production, while others present challenges such as pests, drought, or low yields. Success lies in continuously adjusting strategies, understanding local conditions, and embracing the learning curve.
For beef producers considering polycrops, the key takeaway is clear: trial, error, and adaptation are all part of the process.
