Arable land that is taken out of cash crop production and planted with grasses, clovers, or other forage plants for a specific period, usually one to five years. This practice rebuilds soil structure, fixes nitrogen, and disrupts pest cycles while providing pasture or hay for livestock before the field is plowed again for grain or row crops.
Heard on the job
We'll leave the east acreage in ley for another year to build up the organic matter before we put corn back in.
Also heard as
- lea
- lay
Do not mix it up with
- Fallow: Fallow land is left unplanted to rest, while a ley is actively seeded with forage crops.