Grazed Cover Cropping: Drew Leitch Video

This video features Drew Leitch of Leitch Farms near Nezperce, Idaho, discussing his use of grazed cover crops in a dryland crop and livestock system. Leitch farms about 2,500 acres of cropland and manages about 3,000 acres of pasture, growing wheat, bluegrass, hay, canola, garbanzo beans, peas, and lentils while also running a cow-calf operation. The video explains how spring-seeded cover crop mixes of peas, lentils, grazing oats, triticale, and brassicas provide high-quality summer forage when pasture quality declines. Leitch describes grazing standing cover crops, swath grazing, and bale grazing to extend feed value and distribute manure across fields. He also discusses early observations that cover crops may improve soil moisture, soil health, and crop performance on poorer ground. The video frames grazed cover cropping as a way to combine crop and livestock production while improving long-term farm resilience.