While cover crops can help protect water quality and boost soil health, they are also helping Iowa cattle producers boost the bottom line.

“Cover crops are nutritious, with about 22 percent protein,” said Mark Schleisman of Lake City, who runs 450 cow-calf pairs and uses cover crops for grazing and soil health. “While we set out lick tanks for the cattle, they don’t eat much of it until they graze the cover crops to the ground.”

Schleisman and his family raise approximately 3,500 acres of corn, soybeans, soybean seed, popcorn and popcorn seed in the Lake City area. They’ve expanded their cover crops from 70 acres to nearly ...