Developing a complete plan is important, and remember to keep an open mind. Your toolbox should also include a more diverse crop rotation. Even if you're not into cattle, forages could benefit a neighbour. In turn, the manure from his livestock operation would likely be a benefit to your soil. Forages have long been recognized for their many beneficial characteristics, particularly their ability to suppress weed growth.
Forage can provide a viable alternative to herbicide inputs.
Work by Martin Entz in Manitoba has shown reduction in wild oats, Canada thistle, wild mustard and cleavers after as little as three years of alfalfa in the rotation. In fact wild oat populations in wheat following alfalfa were equal to wheat which had been sprayed with a wild oat herbicide. This is just one example of forage's potential for weed control, and a good example of the importance of a diverse crop rotation. Including forages in your rotation also plays a significant role in alternating seeding dates. This is another vital tool for any seeding system.