A field with several plots of different cover crops under a blue sunny sky.

Cover Crops to Cattle: Updates From the Dryland LTARE Site

Learn what's happening at WaSHI's long-term research site focused on dryland cropping systems with livestock.

December 5, 2025

Authors: Haly Neely and Shikha Singh, WSU

The Long-Term Agroecological Research and Extension (LTARE) site in Davenport, WA continues to advance its mission of improving soil health and sustainability in dryland cropping systems. Since its inception, the LTARE has focused on addressing key challenges faced by growers in the region—loss of soil organic matter, soil acidification, herbicide-resistant weeds, and moisture management. The site incorporates management activities that aim to:

  • Increase soil organic matter in annual crop and crop-fallow transition systems.
  • Shorten fallow periods to improve moisture capture and storage.
  • Integrate livestock and cover crops into conventional rotations to diversify income streams and improve soil function.

Cover Crop Trial

In 2024, the LTARE site launched a new cover crop experiment. The trial compared five distinct cover crop mixes under a randomized complete block design. Species combinations range from traditional mixes (millet, peas, barley) to innovative blends featuring sorghum, sunn hemp, crimson clover, and radishes. The mixes included:

  • Mix 1. tillage radish, turnips, white mustard, faba bean and sunflower
  • Mix 2: proso millet, spring forage peas, beardless barley, blackoil sunflower, and purple top turnips
  • Mix 3: Rye, oats, crimson clover, hairy vetch, daikon radish, and rapeseed
  • Mix 4: Sorghum and sunnhemp
  • Mix 5: Spring triticale.

These treatments aimed to identify optimal strategies for balancing biomass production, nutrient cycling, and feed quality. Results from the trials informed cover crop plantings in 2025.

Progress in 2025

This year marked significant milestones for the LTARE site at Wilke Farm.

Cover Crop Integration - In June 2025, the team seeded a diverse cover crop mixture designed to provide forage, improve soil structure, and enhance nutrient cycling. The mix included species such as proso millet, spring forage peas, beardless barley, blackoil sunflowers, and purple top turnips, building on previous trials while incorporating lessons learned from 2024.

Grazing - Six yearling steers grazed the cover crop in mid-September, continuing the site’s integrated livestock approach.

Soil and Forage Monitoring - Biomass samples were collected and sent to a lab for feed quality analysis to ensure that forage meets nutritional standards while supporting soil health objectives. Prior to winter wheat seeding in September, soil moisture samples were collected across multiple depths (0–100 cm). These measurements help us understand how grazing and cover cropping influence water availability for subsequent crops.

Cattle grazing in a field of diverse flowers and grasses.
As Kruger Cattle steers grazed, their least favorite snack became clear. They left fields of untouched sunflowers in their wake.

Engagement and Outreach

The Dryland LTARE site’s commitment to stakeholder engagement remains strong. These sessions provide opportunities for growers, researchers, and industry partners to exchange insights and guide future LTARE activities. Looking ahead, a full advisory meeting is scheduled for February 2026, where researchers will share comprehensive results and next steps.

A group of six people stand in a grassy field surrounded by green wheat plants, engaged in discussion. The individuals are dressed in casual outdoor clothing and hats, suggesting a farm or research setting. One person in the center appears to be explaining something, using hand gestures, while others listen attentively. The sky above is bright blue with wispy clouds, creating a clear and sunny backdrop.
Collaboration with growers, researchers, planners, and industry partners is key to the success of the WaSHI LTARE Network.

Looking Forward

The coming year will focus on:

  • Completing soil and forage analyses from 2025 trials
  • Continuing long-term rotation sampling to assess cumulative impacts on soil health
  • Finalizing infrastructure for advanced soil stability testing at Lind
  • Preparing manuscripts for publication

Thank you to the LTARE collaborators, advisory panel, and stakeholders for your continued support. The goal of our research remains unchanged: to deliver actionable, science-based solutions that help dryland growers maintain productive, resilient systems.

 

Learn more about the Dryland LTARE site here: washingtonsoilhealthinitiative.com/wilkeltare/

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Haly Neely and Shikha Singh

Haly Neely and Shikha Singh are Assistant Professors at Washington State University and co-leads of the WaSHI Dryland LTARE site.

This article was published by the Washington Soil Health Initiative. For more information, visit wasoilhealth.org. To have these posts delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to the WaSHI newsletter. To find a soil science technical service provider, visit the Washington State University Extension website or the Washington State Conservation District website.