When you ranch in a dry climate like West Texas, keeping your pastures green and your herd fed through the summer can feel like a constant uphill battle. The sun’s blazing, the rain clouds seem to forget you exist, and the grass you do have is stressed and struggling. And stressed forage leads to stressed, underperforming livestock — which is the last thing any rancher needs.
But here’s the empowering news: you don’t have to sit back and hope for the best. With a well-crafted summer forage plan, you can actually extend your grazing season, safeguard your herd’s nutrition, and even prepare your pastures to return stronger next year. This sense of control can alleviate the anxiety that often accompanies the challenges of dryland ranching.
Today, we’re delving into five resilient summer forage options that don’t buckle under pressure—even when the rain gauge stays dry. These varieties are tough, drought-tolerant, and proven to perform when the going gets rough. Their reliability can give you the confidence you need to navigate the toughest season of the year.
Plus, I’ll share a few simple tips to help you get the most out of them, like when to plant, how to manage grazing pressure, and what to watch for to keep your stand healthy. Whether you’re running a big outfit or just getting started with a few head, these ideas can help you ranch smarter through the toughest season of the year.
Let’s jump in and discuss how you can set your place up for a better summer—no rain dance required.
Fertilizer prices have been on a steady climb for decades, but the past few years have seen some of the sharpest increases yet. Take nitrogen fertilizer, for example—it has doubled in price in just the last two years. Unfortunately, there’s no sign that things will get better anytime soon. With costs continuing to rise, ranchers and forage producers need to be smart about how they manage fertilizer use to keep their operations profitable. Simply put, wasting fertilizer means wasting money.
Mesquite trees are like that one neighbor who has some great qualities but tends to overstay their welcome. They’re best known for providing incredible BBQ wood, making them a favorite for pitmasters everywhere. But beyond the grill, they can be a real nuisance for ranchers and range managers. Left unchecked, Mesquite has a knack for taking over pastures, creating more problems than benefits for those trying to manage their land effectively.
Have you ever wondered if your pasture is working as hard as possible? A soil test is like getting a health check-up for your land—it reveals what nutrients are in the soil and how much of them are available. Think of it as the starting point for improving your pasture’s output. Without it, you’re just guessing and hoping for the best, which can waste time and money. But with the 
Soil testing, often overlooked, is
