I planted winter rye after corn silage harvest last fall. I spreaded the bedding pack manure from one hoop building evenly over the field, disced the field lightly, and planted a bushel of rye per acre with my drill.
It came up nicely and gave me a few days of grazing last fall. The real beauty of winter rye is that it stays green all winter. When the snow isn’t too deep, it’s nice to find a sea of green in a dead and dormant winter landscape.
Winter rye also takes off growing in the spring faster than anything. It has an alleopathic effect, meaning it’s competitive with other plants. A quick glance in the field found no weeds.
In the photo above you can see the cattle in the rye, kept in with a single electric wire. The field with the ATV is alfalfa/grass. The dead area is where I concentrated the driving of machinery, keeping the compacted/damaged area in one place, rather than scattered throughout the fields.
In the photo below you can see the saying is true, “grass is greener etc,” even when it’s not. I’m amazed at cows’ body knowledge. They will reach under an electric fence, mere inches from being shocked, and rarely get shocked.
Curiousfarmer 
…”I’m amazed at cows’ body knowledge. They will reach under an electric fence, mere inches from being shocked, and rarely get shocked.”
I think this applies to some people too, don’t you think? :0)
Great pics.
Always enjoy your posts.
Amy Parmenter
The ParmFarm
You’re too smart, Amy! No, I’m not ready to say people have as much body knowledge as cows. People have too much curiosity.
Those are some fine looking beeves standing there. Seriously makes me think of fabricating a large spit for a pit BBQ.Some of my Mexican buds do that for their daughter’s quincinilia – a huge coming out party when the girl is 15. We’d sure invite one of them to the party! Slow roasted over wild pecan….tasty