In water limited regions that receive between 12 - 17 inches of annual precipitation, multi-species forage crops show some promise as a replacement to summer fallow. Additionally, in dryland systems where annual cropping is more typical (>17 inch annual precipitation), forage crops may be a viable replacement for spring wheat, or could be used in years when spring crop planting is prevented due to excessing rain. Forage crops can provide similar benefits as cover crops, while generating revenue when grown for hay or grazing as a replacement for a cash crop in dryland rotations. Forage crops return higher quality biomass, different from other crops typically grown cereal based cropping systems, affecting soil organic carbon dynamics and nitrogen cycling. An assessment of water use and implications on fertilizer management (timing and rates) when integrating forage crops into dryland cereal cropping systems will be discussed.