Integration of Grazing and No-Tillage Crop Production to Improve Soil Health and Buffer Against Summer Heat.

Well-managed perennial pasture is one of the best land management systems to protect land from erosion, build soil organic matter content, and improve soil structure. Similarly, no-tillage systems have been shown to provide erosion protection and improve soil health. However, grazing and no-tillage movements have been largely separated. In this project we intend to foster integration of these two initiatives and try out alternatives with producers. Integration of no-till systems with grazing has many potential benefits. Summer cover crop mixtures can help buffer grazing farms against climate variability and the summer slump in forage production. Combination of grazing and no-till systems can facilitate transition to no-tillage crop production due to the excellent soil quality after pasture. At the same time, renovation of pastures using no-tillage practices helps reduce soil erosion and maintain soil health. Intensive rotational grazing systems can help stimulate root growth and provide uniform distribution of manure and urine to stimulate soil biological activity. Motivation to plant and manage cover crops increases as they provide feed for animals. Finally, there is a great opportunity to improve whole farm profitability by integration of grazing and crop production, as has been shown in Brazil and North Dakota. We will report how grazing/no-till system integration improves production, profitability, soil health, and increases resilience against climate variability and summer heat on 3 farms located in three different ecoregions of Pennsylvania.