Research from a University of Illinois graduate student hopes to better understand crop-beef cattle operations.  

A key goal is to find the right balance in grazing and harvesting cereal rye made in a rotation between corn and soybean crops, and what can impact these plans. Grady Gullickson, a graduate student in the Department of Animal Sciences, is leading the project.  He says it involves experiments with livestock on farmland, which has corn and soybean plants.

This methodology puts the project at the mercy of the weather, which requires adjusting, just like in the real world. 

Gullickson says finding the right balance between grazing and harvesting is complex but important for producing good yields.

The Dudley Smith Farm Field Day was earlier this week in Christian County. More information is available at extension.illinois.edu.