Pasture and Forage Minute

Pastures and hay meadows provide higher quality feed, are more productive, and require fewer inputs when they have good forage legumes growing in them. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Cheatgrass, sometimes called downy brome, or wild oats, is an annual weedy grass that can be a problem in pastures, particularly in central and western Nebraska. Samantha Daniel, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Educator.

With recent rains and cooler weather, cool-season pastures like brome, bluegrass, and fescue could put on some extra growth. That’s good news — but it also raises the question: do we graze it now or save it for later? Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Late summer is often when annual grasses like foxtail, sandbur, and barnyardgrass become especially noticeable in pastures. They commonly show up where grass stands are thin, animal traffic is heavy, or overgrazing has left open space. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Did you spray thistles this past spring or summer? If so, it may be worth revisiting those areas. New plants or regrowth may have shown up, and late September through early November can be a good time for thistle control in pastures and hayland. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

As temperatures cool this fall, don’t be too quick to shut irrigation off on alfalfa, especially if the soil profile is dry. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

As we move into fall, many producers may be looking at harvesting forage from summer annuals like sorghum-sudan, forage sorghum or millet. While these crops can provide valuable feed, making dry hay this time of year can be challenging. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

There are a couple of leasing options for producers and landowners. Verbal leases are a common form of lease agreement. However, if someone is considering terminating a verbal lease, there are some dates and rules to remember. Shannon Sand, Nebraska Ag Economics Extension Educator.

Drought can leave dryland corn with little grain potential but still considerable forage value. Before writing those fields off, grazing may be one way to capture some value with livestock. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.

Silage is a cornerstone feed for livestock across Nebraska. Knowing its value is critical for making sound management decisions, whether budgeting for your own operation or selling to a buyer. Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Forage Systems Educator.