As we finish up the month of October, producers need to be looking toward next spring as they plan to finish up this year’s grazing plan. By now, you should have finished your last hay harvests and made any soil fertility applications in anticipation of fall dormancy. Our cool-season grass species have passed the peak of the late summer/early fall growth period and are slowing down their vegetative growth rates. Shortening day length combined with decreasing soil temperatures are signaling to the plant to store energy in preparation for the winter dormancy period.
The question of when to end the grazing season is not determined by the calendar, but more a question of the current conditions, your forage needs, and your management plans for the remainder of the fall and into next spring. To start the discussion, we need to think about what our grasses would be doing if we didn’t need to harvest them, or have our livestock harvest them for us. The deceasing day length and cooler temperature are signaling to the grasses and legumes that winter is approaching, and they need to be storing energy prior to winter dormancy. This stored energy will be important to initiate regrowth next spring. If the plant is not given the opportunity to store energy and produce sufficient above ground leaf mass to provide insulation, the plant may not survive the cold of winter and will struggle to get going next spring. Where this energy is stored in the plant is dependent on the species but is either in the lower portion of the stem or in the root system.
So, when should we wrap up our grazing at the end of the year? As I mentioned, there are a couple of decisions to make and all are related in some way to what you need for next spring. Ideally, your last pass through each paddock is completed in a way that minimizes soil disturbance from your livestock’s hooves and leaves behind 3 to 6 inches of top growth. When final grazing height is in the 3-to-6-inch range there is sufficient leaf area for photosynthesis to occur, which allows for plant regrowth and the continuation of carbohydrate storage without depleting plant energy stores. Ensuring the minimum above ground mass will provide insulation to the plant and protects the soil by limiting potential erosion.
The last two years have prevented producers from storing the amount of hay they would like, and many will be encouraged to take advantage of pasture availability as long as possible. You just need to be aware of the potential consequences. Short grazing in the fall can be a benefit if you plan to frost seed or renovate next spring. By grazing close now, there will be less vegetative mass in the early spring, which will help promote seed-to-soil contact for those broadcast applications, and make no-till planting easier once soil temperatures allow planting. If you will be grazing these pastures next spring you will need to look at your rotation plans. Those paddocks that are stressed this time of year will be slower to get started next spring. They will not be the ones that you should plan to graze first in the spring to give them extra time to get going.
Upcoming Events
As we approach the new year, there is only one program on the calendar at this point. On November 10th, we will host Clint Schroder, Coordinator for the OSU Extension Farm Business Analysis program. This is a continuation of our Farm Transition workshop we did last spring. I am opening this session back up to everyone as Clint will be discussing how the program can assist producers in understanding the true cost of production. The event is free, and we do ask that you RSVP by calling the Extension Office. Pie and coffee will be provided.
I would also encourage you to sign up for our quarterly newsletter. The next edition will come out January 1st and will include a few timely articles from myself and Frank Becker, as well as a listing of upcoming programs. From January through March, we will be hosting our annual private pesticide applicators recertification sessions. We are also planning - the Small Farm Business College; annual crop and livestock outlook; commodity marketing course; beef quality assurance recertification; pork quality assurance certification; and our agronomy school. If you have questions about our programs or services, please reach out to me at the OSU Extension Office-Wayne County at 330-264-8722
John Yost is an extension educator IV, Agriculture and Natural Resources, at OSU Extension-Wayne County.
This article was previously published in The Daily Record.