This winter’s snowfall has helped us forget about last summer’s drought conditions.  Although we can assume sufficient moisture to help get our forage crops off and running in a few weeks, we still need to think about babying the new growth to help plants fully recover. Adequate soil fertility is always our starting point, and the Tri-State Fertilizer Recommendation Guide (OSU Extension Bulletin 974) provides soil fertility recommendations for our forage crops. 

The minimal soil test values for grass species are 20-40 ppm for phosphorus(P) and 100-170 ppm for potassium(K), depending on soil type.  For pure stands of alfalfa, the minimum soil test values for P are 30-50 ppm and 100-170 ppm for K.  If you have a mixed grass-legume stand, your legumes will have higher P and K requirements than the grasses, and there may be a need to push the lower end of baseline soil fertility values to a median value of at least 25 ppm P.  If your soil test reveals you are in the target range, no fertilizer application will be necessary.

Nitrogen(N) is a different story.  Annual nitrogen applications will probably be necessary, but the amount will vary depending on your management style and your forage stand composition.  The legume in a grass-legume stand will provide nitrogen to the grasses.  If your stand consists of less than 20 percent legume, it is recommended that you supplement your fertility with 100-180 lbs. of N per acre.  If your stand is 20-35 percent legumes you will need 50-130 lbs. of N, and if your stand is 35 percent legumes or more you should not need added nitrogen.

You may want to consider allowing your pasture stands a little extra time to get growing this spring prior to your first grazing events.  This is especially true if you didn’t have the fall growth you would expect.  The plants may not have had time to build any root reserves to get them started off this spring.  If stressed early, there could be continued stand declines.  It will be hard for some to wait any longer than they must.  Patience now will give your stands a better opportunity to continue to recover and meet your livestock’s forage needs throughout this growing season and into the next. 

Our two webinar series are continuing into March.  The next All About Sheep! Series will be held on March 3^rd at 7:00 PM.  Our topic, “Setting Operational Goals and Marketing According”, will be presented by Jacci Smith and Tim Barnes from OSU Extension.  The final session is scheduled for March 17^th when Dr. Jacki Jolliff will be discussing flock health.  You can register for the sessions at https://go.osu.edu/allaboutsheep26.  Also, the OSU Beef Team is continuing their webinar series.  The next session is March 5^th when OSU Extension Educator Allen Gahler will discuss a “Buyer’s Guide to Bull Selection”.  You can register for the series at https://go.osu.edu/beefschool26.

Two regional conferences will be held at the Shisler Conference center in March.  The OSU Small Farm Conference will be held on March 14^th.  Conference details and registration information can be found at  https://go.osu.edu/smallfarmconference2026.  The second is the Eastern Ohio Women in Ag Conference scheduled for March 27^th.   The conference agenda and registration information can be found at https://u.osu.edu/womeninag.

Finally, we will be hosting a four-night Small Farm Business College beginning April 8^th.  All four sessions will be held at the Fisher Auditorium from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM.  There will be a variety of farm business topics related to: goal setting, evaluating your resources, budgeting, tax planning, and ag law considerations.  The registration fee is $60 per participant, and dinner will be provided at each session.  Complete program information can be found on our website at wayne.osu.edu, under the events tab.