All this new green growth does make me eager to get livestock back on pasture again although I’m not going to get in a rush. That initial growth is important to restore the solar panel/photosynthesis and restore roots. You certainly don’t want the forage to get ahead of you, but initiating grazing too quickly does hurt productivity.
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Examining Alfalfa Stands
Depending on region, livestock type, and forage source, it is safe to say many livestock producers could be planning to augment forage stands as soon as possible this spring. Having a better understanding of what alfalfa stands might look like in a couple of months will help guide those decisions. Alfalfa injury or death (from winter weather OR overall plant hardiness) occurs because of a myriad of factors:
Read MoreConsider a Forage Planting of Peas and Oats
One of the quickest growing forages is a small grain paired with forage peas. This option can be planted as soon as field conditions allow in April/May and are usually ready for harvest in 60-90 days, depending on tonnage and/or quality requirements.
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Feast or Frenzy - 3 Questions to ask Yourself Before Turning Animals to Pasture
Most of the Midwest had a surprisingly dry fall. This made for an excellent harvest, but how stressed were our pastures going into the winter? The lack of moisture and some sub-zero temperatures without snowfall have us thinking Old Man Winter did a number on our perennials.
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The Case for Clover - Consider Frost-Seeding Legumes this Winter
Frost-seeding clovers into poorly producing or grass-dominated pastures by broadcasting in late winter is a practice that has been done for years. Adding legumes into pasture improves grazing quality and increases the forage amount that can be removed (up to a 50 to 100 percent increase in production when using legumes as a small percentage of the grass pasture).
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