We used to plant by hand two rows of sweet cane and two rows of milo and then never touch it. It makes both great cover and supplies a wonderful sweet and nutritious feed through the winter. It can be tough to clean up in the spring but those 4 rows provided feed and shelter but kept predators from being able to set up and ambush pheasants, quail and grouse where I lived. After the second year the cane reseeded it self so it was nice. You might try that as in your part of the country your growing season is just long enough and you get enough moisture that you wouldn't have to mess with it but to plant and clean it up.