Extension
Connection
Extension
Connection
Spring Pastures
By Heather Benedict, Agronomist Specialist
This is Heather Benedict, Regional Agronomy Specialist. I am based out of Bethany Mo. I serve Worth, Gentry, Harrison, Mercer, Grundy, Daviess, Caldwell and Livingston Counties. I will be bringing you today’s program.
In spite of the changes in weather lately, I am heartened to see the grass beginning to green up. The cool season grasses are beginning to grow. Soon there will be more forage than producers can keep up with. When the grass supply begins to outstrip the demand, there is a temptation to overstock pastures. As tempting as this is, unless there is a plan about how to preserve the quality of the pastures in months of less growth, it is better for the forage to keep the livestock load in pastures to a reasonable level.
Legumes are also beginning to show in pastures. The weather in 2008 was ideal for legume growth. After such a banner year it is easy to forget that pasture legumes need some care in order to survive in a normal year. The legume growth in the early spring is slower than that of the cool season grasses. If nitrogen was added to the pastures early this year, the legumes can be smothered by the rapid growth of the grass. The swings in temperature will not significantly affect the forage growth, but with all the rain and not enough sun to evaporate the moisture, it does make the pastures muddy. Legumes can be trampled in muddy pastures smothering them or stunting their growth. This is important to remember because legumes fix nitrogen and add it to the soil. If legume density in the stand is 30 percent or higher, no nitrogen needs to be added to the pasture for fertility. Legumes are also high quality forage that can help extend the grazing capacity of a pasture into the heat of the summer months.
An added benefit to the rapid growth of spring pastures is that the forage can outstrip the weed growth early in the season. Grass weeds and sericea lespedeza are palatable early in the season. Later they will become more fibrous or woody and less likely to be eaten by livestock. Thus, it is good to take advantage of pastures with these unwanted species while the quality is still relatively high.
More information and the research on the practices I have discussed as well as on many more subjects can be found in your local extension office. So if you would like further information on this or any other topic contact your local University of Missouri Extension office. University of Missouri and Extension programs are open to all. Thank you for your time.
(Written April 6 , 2009)
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Extension Connection Barb Ubben, Web Manager harrisonco@missouri.edu Last revised: 05/25/04 |