Intercropping spring and winter cereals extends the production of quality pasture into the fall and provides the producer with some flexibility. In a year like 2021, regrowth on annual cereals harvested for silage or greenfeed extended the grazing season significantly for many. Combining winter cereal with spring means the forage as a whole can benefit from early and late season rainfall.

To provide more insight, this project will compare two seeding methods for four forages or forage mixes either as a simple planting or combined with a barley cover crop in a saline area.

They will then compare the economic values in 2023 to assess the difference between forage and annual crop productivity in saline areas.

Forage producers are reluctant to use traditional nitrogen as they have significant nitrogen losses. Nitrogen loss inhibitor products are well regarded in crop production, but there has been limited uptake in forages.However, previous demonstrations in years with adequate moisture showcased good results, as forage crude protein increased.
This project will add an additional inhibitor, and provide an additional year of data with (hopefully) more precipitation.

Moisture conditions are quite variable throughout Saskatchewan, though the needs of feed for our cattle herds remain consistent.

The project demonstrates the use of a fodder growing system that would "drought-proof" farms and ranches through the use of hydroponically grown barley, and compares it to conventional feeding methods.