Spring is almost around the corner. The temperatures will soon rise, and the grass will begin to grow again. For most people, pasture management comes to mind when temperatures rise, but that is not necessarily the case. It is vital to get a start on it now.
It is never too early to develop a plan for preparing your pastures for spring. Starting now can give you enough time to get everything you need to make it work. Also, springtime can be a very hectic time for most producers, with the calving season kicking into high gear, so it is good to get started now.
The preparation you do now can set you up for success all year long. Here are five things you can do to get your pasture started in the right direction.
Tip# 1: Test your soil
Your soil is the foundation of any excellent pasture management program that you will develop. You need to get it right here to avoid causing you many problems down the road. Not doing this is much like trying to build your house on sand; it may work, but in all likelihood, it will not.
Soil testing will let you know the soil pH and any fertilizer needs that you may have. Once you have this information, you can begin to develop your pasture management goals.
Some types of soil tests you can do.
(Included in my previous post “Don’t Hold Back Your Soil Test”)
- Routine: this is the basic test that you can choose from. It will determine the available soil pH, salinity, nitrates, and levels of the primary nutrients (Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, and Sulphur). It will also provide the Basic N-P-K fertilizer recommendations. This test is acceptable for most applications.
- Micronutrient: this test estimates the levels of Zinc, Iron, Manganese, and Copper that are available. You should use this test for specialty crops in high-pH soils where corn or sorghum is grown. You can also use this test to troubleshoot any deficiencies.
- Boron: this soil test determines the level of water-extractable boron in the soil. You will want to use this test where clover, alfalfa, or other legumes are grown on sandy soils.
- Detailed salinity: This test measures the pH, electrical conductivity, and water-soluble levels of the major cations in the soil. You can conduct this test if water quality is of concern.
- Lime requirement: this test determines the time a producer will need to raise the soil’s pH to the desired level. This test is necessary for very acidic soils where alfalfa or other legumes are grown.
- Texture and organic matter: This is a specialty test for specific applications. It will determine the amount of sand, silt, and clay in the soil. Research or environmental purposes usually require this type of request.
Tip#2: Walk your fences
Now that you know the pasture’s soil composition, you should inspect each pasture. By doing this, you will be able to determine whether or not there is anything to improve. If any fences need repairs, you can also do that.
Winter storms and possible snow, yes, some people get pretty heavy snow, can wreak havoc on your fences. Entire trees or just heavy limbs can fall, making gaps that animals can get through. It would be best to inspect them before you get an angry call from your neighbor saying your cows are at their place.
It would help if you also looked for any sagging parts in the fence along with any gaps. If they sag low enough, a cow can jump over them, causing you problems. Now, you may be asking, “Just how tall should the fence be?“. According to a report by the University of Tennessee, cattle fences should be 54 inches tall.
While you are taking stock of your fences, it may be time to decide if you need to divide them into smaller paddocks or not. Rotating your pasture will allow for your forages to produce better. As well as preventing under-utilization of some areas and distributing grazing evenly, it will also help to reduce the amount of grazing in some areas.
Tip#3: Get pasture weeds under control
Weed control is an essential part of any pasture management, not just in the spring. If your grass grows, you can bet that any weeds present will also grow. There are generally three ways that you can control weeds.
Picking the right seed for your needs is the first way to control weed growth. Plants that are appropriate for your soil will be hearty and will out-compete the weeds. The presence of weeds typically indicates a problem with your soil. The desirable grass or legumes aren’t thriving while your weeds are. Making corrections to your growing conditions following your soil test should put a lid on weed growth.
Herbicides can effectively control different types of broadleaf weeds in the early spring while they are actively growing. When using herbicides, be careful because they may also kill any forages you want to keep. Also, you will want to remove any livestock from that pasture before you apply the herbicide so they do not ingest any of it.
Mowing is another option that you can use, though it is only a temporary fix. If properly timed, mowing can prevent weeds from producing seed, thus temporarily allowing increased forage production. Mowing can be very helpful in managing weeds in pastures. Still, large weeds have a well-developed root system that makes them difficult to control.
Tip#4: Overseed pasture if needed
For best results, seed your pastures in the fall, but if you missed that window, don’t worry. You can still put seeds out during this time of year, though instead of planting them, you will instead just broadcast them out.
Typically, overseeding takes place between mid-February and mid-March. If you are looking for a couple of ideas of what to plant, I have you covered:
- Option#1: Plant spring oats- If you have cropland that does not currently have any winter pasture, then spring oats are a good idea. The recommended seeding rate is 2 to 3 bushels per acre or 65 to 100lbs per acre with about 50 to 100lbs nitrogen along with it
- Option#2: Ryegrass- Ryegrass is a good option if you have bermudagrass that is grazed short during this time of year. You should put out 15 to 20 lbs per acre by early March. Apply 50 to 100 lbs per acre of actual nitrogen when broadcasting seed.
Tip#5: Rotate your pasture
After laying the foundation for pasture management, your work is still ongoing. You will need to make a plan to rest your pastures to allow enough regrowth. This rest period is necessary to promote better grazing and prevent any damage from overgrazing. Promoting this means rotating your pastures, which is required. The better you treat your pastures, the better they will treat your livestock.
It may be tempting to turn your cows out to a pasture as soon as you see green growth, but that could not be good for you. Grazing pastures before they reach their ideal height can stunt their development for the rest of the year. Different types of forages will tolerate different grazing heights, so plan accordingly. Various kinds of forages have different ideal grazing heights. Still, overall, it is a good idea only to graze when it is 8-10″ in height.
