This is a great article from Mother Earth News on growing cover crops and why. I also use cover crops during the off season to add fertility and organic matter back into the soil.
As I’ve said in previous posts I strip or ‘mob’ graze the goats and chickens through the growing area in ‘fallow’ sections. During the off season, I spilt the growing area into approx. 40 x 120 foot ‘strips’ with electric goat netting. I let the goats into each section and allow them to eat down all the leftover plant material. Once the goats have cleared the area, I move them to the next 40 x 120 section and move the chickens into the ‘old’ section. The chickens will help spread the goat manure around, scratch up any bugs and finish ‘cleaning up’ the rest of the plant material. The same pattern repeats, move the goats into the next area and the chickens where they were.
After the chickens are done, I plan to sow a cover crop in the section. I’ll be planting a material that can also be used as fodder for the livestock like a vetch or rye, although I’m still deciding the best choice. A soil test after the grazing and planting will determine whether I re-graze the goats or go ahead and till that cover crop into the soil.
All in all, using cover crops and good ‘soil management’ is the BEST way to maximize your yields, keep your pest population down and inhibit weed growth in future growing seasons.
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