By Shelby Robinson, M.Sc., AAg, Livestock and Feed Extension Specialist, Moose Jaw
March 2026
Annual polycrop forage blends typically consist of species representing four functional groups: warm season plants, cool season plants, annual legumes and a brassica all growing together to provide forage for livestock. Polycrops have been of increasing interest due to their ability to provide plant diversity, provide an alternative forage source for livestock, and in some situations, increase soil organic carbon. However, choosing the right blend for your operation may be challenging and overwhelming at times.
When deciding whether polycrops are a good fit for your operation, it’s important to consider site selection based on field history, what the average cumulative precipitation has been over the last three to five years and soil moisture, as low moisture can hinder germination. Consider a soil test to determine soil type and available nutrients. Looking at what was previously grown on the field and what the weed pressure was like is important because once the polycrop starts to emerge there are no in-crop herbicides that can be used to target weeds without affecting some of the species in the polycrop. An effective herbicide application before planting can help to reduce weed pressure by giving the polycrop a chance to establish before the weeds start growing again.
Field history and soil type can also be a good indicator for blend selection depending on your intended use for the polycrop. For example, if you are in an area of low precipitation, choosing a blend that will still yield well in drought conditions may be in your best interest. A few drought tolerant species typically found in polycrop blends are barley, millet, pea, forage rape, sorghum-sudan grass and triticale.
More is not always better when it comes to polycrops. Simple mixes perform just as well or better than complex mixes in terms of forage yield, nutritional quality and added soil carbon. Start simple with a two or four-species blend such as oat or barley, pea, forage brassica and millet or sorghum-sudan grass. Polycrop blends often contain a variety of species, including common and uncommon seeds. It is important to make sure that most of the blend consists of proven plants that will grow in your area, which will maximize forage biomass production.
Starting small with just a few acres can help determine how the polycrop blend will grow and perform in the field. If the blend is successful with minimal weed growth, adequate forage biomass and all the species are present in the forage stand you can then increase the number of acres for the next planting season.
Finally, understand the risks associated with polycrops during times of drought, frost and excessive soil nitrogen from manure or fertilizer applications. These events can cause anti-nutritional factors such as nitrate accumulation in cereals; sulfur and sodium (and nitrate) accumulation in brassicas; and prussic acid accumulation in flax, sorghum and sorghum-sudan grass. To best mitigate these risks, it is recommended to feed test and have a backup plan if anti-nutritional factors are present.
A good backup plan may consist of being flexible, adaptable and having an alternative feed source. Strategies such as diluting feeds with anti-nutritional factors with a good feed source can help reduce the risks associated with the less desirable feed. The amount of blending or dilution of the feed that is necessary will depend on the amount of anti-nutritional factors present according to the feed test. Blending can be done a variety of ways such as using a mix wagon, shedder or rolling out bales, baling polycrops provides more flexibility for blending feed sources compared to swath grazing.
Polycrops may help extend the grazing season by providing pasture relief or increase winter feed inventory depending on the goals and use of the forage. However, it is important to consider the risks that can accompany growing polycrop blends and how it aligns with the operations risk tolerance. For more information on selecting and grazing polycrop blends or about managing anti-quality factors in forages, please contact the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1‑866‑457‑2377.