Originally published in Crop Talk September 2012
The summer of 2012 has been one of the driest on record in Ontario and pastures are showing the impact. There are a number of steps to consider this fall and next spring to bring pastures back into top form.
Reduce Tramping
Allowing pasture to re-grow and recover this fall will result in a more vigorous stand next spring. Sacrifice a small pasture and feed in this area rather than letting the livestock roam across the entire pasture. Once moisture levels return and the grass starts to re-grow, give pastures an opportunity to develop before allowing livestock to graze. The plants need time to grow new root and leaf material and re-build root reserves to replace what was damaged during the dry weather.
If feeding green-chopped forage, be aware that nitrate levels may be high in drought-stressed corn or sorghum that could be deadly to livestock. Refer to “Potential Nitrate Poisoning and Silo Gas When Using Corn Damaged by Dry Weather for Silage, Green Chop or Grazing”
There are several other ideas that will provide forage for your livestock during the later part of the grazing season. Crop residues can provide excellent quality forage. Don’t over look cereal stubble. There will be some volunteer grain in these fields that can be grazed. The fields could also be seeded with oats or barley immediately after the cereal harvest. If red clover was broadcast in the spring for a plowdown cover crop, consider grazing this growth. This will provide feed for livestock while the soil nutrients will remain in the field. Corn stalks can provide a great deal of forage after the grain has been harvested. In many situations, electric fence can be quickly erected at less cost than harvesting and hauling the feed to the livestock.
Annual Forage
If sufficient growing season remains and soil moisture is adequate, consider an annual forage. Fall rye grows well into the fall, and greens up early in the spring. Depending on the length of growing season remaining, oats, rape or stubble turnips could be considered, but they must be sown by early- to mid-August.
Fertilizer
Soil fertility plays a major role in fall pasture growth, the over wintering of the plants, and the following spring’s production. Fall is a good time of year to help a pasture that is struggling from being overgrazed, stressed by poor growing conditions, or a combination of both. Nitrogen is the key, but phosphorous and potash are important additions to getting pastures back into productivity. Nitrogen fertilizer applied to a grass-based pasture during the early fall will encourage growth and help to rejuvenate the grass. Apply 55 – 75 kg/ha (50 – 70 lbs/ac) of actual nitrogen. Expect 20 to 30 units of dry matter production from each unit of nitrogen applied. Fall application will increase the sugar levels in the grasses, and promote more vigorous growth next spring.
To establish new legumes in a pasture, the best method may be to apply phosphorous and potash this fall, and then frost seed late in the winter or early next spring with clover or trefoil. The legume seedlings will need a reasonable level of fertility to get properly established, and the weakened grasses will be less competitive.
For more information refer to:
