• Topics: Agronomy | North Florida REC-Quincy | Wright, David L | Marois, James J | Rich, Jimmy R | Katsvairo, Tawainga | Peanut Cotton Rotations | Beef Cattle Management

The Role of Livestock in Integrated Peanut/Cotton Cropping System Economics¹

The first cattle in the United States were brought to Florida in 1513 by Ponce de Leon. Over the centuries, the role of cattle in agriculture has changed from subsistence mixed farming, where farmers kept both cattle and crops, to specialization, where for some farmers, cattle production became their sole agriculture business. The current economic situation and environmental and wildlife concerns favor the integration of livestock into peanut/cotton farming systems as well as other row crops. This discussion will be on a long-term rotation of a four-year cropping system that includes two years of bahiagrass followed by peanut and then cotton with winter grazing on small grain in place of the traditional peanut/cotton rotation. An overview of this farming system is given in the EDIS publication SS-AGR-126 Sod/Livestock Based Peanut/Cotton Production Systems: Why We Recommend It! (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag258) and also on our website at http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/sod_rotation.shtml.

Row crop growers stand to reap several benefits when they include cattle in their farming systems. In the course of grazing, cattle reduce chances of fires, control weeds, and make use of plants that cannot be digested by humans (i.e., changing low-energy grass to high-protein beef or milk). Livestock provides a fallback alternative for using crops when grain quality or quantity is not good enough to be sold or harvested. In the case of the proposed livestock integrated peanut/cotton cropping system, bahiagrass can be baled and fed to the cattle, or, alternatively, the cattle can graze on the bahiagrass. Livestock fit well with the already existing cover crop system and can graze on the winter small grain crops. In winter, small grain crops could potentially be grown on land that would be used for peanuts and cotton in summer. This would enable farmers to achieve higher carrying capacity, and more intensive summer and winter grazing increases income to be obtained from livestock. Livestock manure provides recycled nutrients and other beneficial properties important to soil quality and plant growth. Livestock manure can increase soil organic matter, and manure and urine can also raise the pH level. Cattle recycle a considerable amount of N, and this can reduce N application while maintaining plant growth.

Expansion and intensification of agriculture and associated tillage have robbed wildlife habitat and reduced plant and animal biodiversity and numbers. It is necessary for humans to provide habitat for wildlife if we are going to preserve wildlife for future generations. Many animal species including ground-nesting birds, deer, wild turkey, quail, and rabbits all live in close proximity to humans. Diverse cropping systems result in diverse plants likely to attract insects, which in turn will attract birds. Rotating perennial grasses through row crop land increases plant species composition and wildlife habitat.

Economics of the Crop/Livestock Farming System

Cotton and peanut yields have not increased much over the past 15-25 years until the past few years, while the cost of production has continued to rise. Thus, it is not surprising that many row crop growers found it difficult to remain financially viable and either sold their land or planted pines. Our research has shown that incorporating livestock into the traditional peanut/cotton or other row crop rotations greatly increases the profitability for farmers. We have an interactive business model growers can use to evaluate the economic feasibility of a four-year livestock/peanut/cotton/sod rotation for their own farms. The model can be found at http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/sod_rotation.shtml. Farmers can input values for their farm scenarios and find how the system works for them.

Generally, results from the model show low net returns at the beginning of the integrated farming system compared to the traditional peanut/cotton rotation. However, returns quickly jump up and can be 2-6 fold in year 3, and by year 4, can be 3-7 fold greater compared to the conventional peanut/cotton rotation. The low profits at the beginning of the rotation are a result of conventional crop yields with standard rotations. The greater returns in years 3 and 4 are from the cattle revenue and greater returns from crops with higher yields. Even if the grower does not have cattle but adopts the sod rotation, the sod-based rotation would still be more profitable than the conventional peanut/cotton rotation, because of the higher crop yields from the rotation. As pointed out earlier, bahiagrass hay or seed can be sold for income. Many small row crop farmers in Florida have small cattle herds, and they may buy hay from their neighbors. Likewise, farmers who may not want to invest in cattle can still incorporate livestock into their rotations through contract grazing or working with a neighbor who has cattle. Thus, they gain the advantages of integrated farming without actually owning cattle.

Conclusion

An integrated sod/livestock based peanut/cotton farming system adds value above the traditional peanut/cotton rotation. This system increases yield and profitability and allows for wildlife proliferation. While the integration of crop and livestock systems is challenging because it requires new knowledge and greater management skills, the potential rewarding returns from these systems should make farmers willing to learn to manage cattle. Complete details on the sod rotation, including the effect on plant and soil health, weeds, diseases, pests, and yield, are also available on our website (http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/sod_rotation.shtml) and in other publications on EDIS (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/).

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The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.

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