Grass is usually the best option to plant on farm pond banks, but there are some other alternatives. The main goal for seeding along pond banks is to prevent soil erosion—and grass is ideal for this, plus it is easy to mow. When it is well maintained, it won’t allow too much organic material into the pond whereas crops or stalky growth risk adding excess organic material to the pond, which can cause algae blooms or other issues.
On dams, in spillways and in diversion terraces, you can use grass or plant a small grain like rye or wheat for erosion control. Other alternatives for shoreline planting include Japanese millet, wild millet or Korean Lespedeza to prevent erosion.