Monday, 6 October 2008

George R. Brown Convention Center, Exhibit Hall E

Chengci Chen, Central Ag Research Center, Montana State University, 52583 US Hwy 87, Moccasin, MT 59462, Dave Buschena, Dep Economics and Ag Economics, Montana State University, Linfield Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717 and Clain Jones, Land Resources & Env. Sciences, Montana State University, PO Box 173120, Bozeman, MT 59717

Traditional Australian ley farming system utilizes an annual legume (black medic, Medicago lupulina L.) pasture in rotation with a cereal crop (wheat, Triticum aestivium L.) and livestock graze on the legume pasture before it is terminated for planting the cereal crop. This system may provide some benefits in Montana integrated crop-livestock systems due to rising nitrogen and fuel prices. A survey of 4200 Montana farmers and ranchers indicated that about 43% of Montana producers had both crops and livestock in their operations in 2007. Although medic was found to be agronomically unsuitable in Montana dryland cropping systems, alternative grazed legume crops appear to have some potential for incorporation into a wheat-based system. A project was carried out in central Montana to evaluate the potential of winter pea (Pisum sativum L.) and lentil (Lens culinaris L.) as forage for haying or grazing, and to investigate the benefits (including N benefit) of the pea and lentil for subsequent wheat in rotation. On average winter pea and lentil produced approximately 3000 and 2000 kg ha^-1 of hay, respectively. An economic analysis was performed and the estimates of nitrogen and haying or grazing benefits of the pea crop appear to offset the seed and machinery operating costs for peas. The nitrogen benefit from peas reduced, but did not completely eliminate the amount of urea that needed to be applied for a subsequent wheat crop.

See more of: Agronomic Factors in Biomass Production Systems/Reception (Posters)
See more of: A10 Bioenergy and Agroindustrial Systems (Provisional)

2008 Joint Annual Meeting (5-9 Oct. 2008): Winter Pea and Lentil for Forage in Crop-Livestock Cropping Systems in Montana.

546-3 Winter Pea and Lentil for Forage in Crop-Livestock Cropping Systems in Montana.