– Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist/Grazing Specialist
Don’t rob the reserves: grazing too short before dormancy weakens plants for winter and next spring.
Quite often, pastures are grazed down tighter than they should be and earlier than they should have been in the fall. This weakens forage plants, slows growth in spring, and opens the stand for opportunistic weeds. It’s usually done with good intentions: “I don’t want to feed any hay until I have to.” Or “I want to use every bit of grass before feeding hay.” Or even, “I’m just trying to maximize my grazing days.” Those are understandable goals, but they can cost much more in the long run than a few extra days of hay feeding.
Grazing forages too short in fall forces plants to use stored energy to regrow leaves, weakening them for winter and slowing spring recovery (paraphrased from François Guénon, “A Treatise on Milch Cows”: “The cow, like the pasture, is nature’s instrument: overuse it early, and it will deplete what sustains it”).
It’s best to wait until forages have gone dormant before the last grazing of the season. Once dormant, plants have stopped active growth and won’t try to push new leaves, so grazing at that stage won’t deplete root reserves. Grazing too early, while plants are still photosynthesizing, forces them to use energy better saved for spring recovery.
Predicting dormancy is part science, part weather-watching, and part guessing whether your pasture is more stubborn than a mule. Light frosts in the upper 20s to low 30s°F may slow growth, and about three nights around 25°F typically signal that most cool-season forages in the Midwest are entering dormancy. Leaves may remain somewhat green, but growth has stopped. A good rule of thumb is to wait until soil temperatures are consistently below about 40°F and no new growth is visible. That’s the time for a final light grazing. Even then, avoid taking it too short. Leave at least three to four inches of residual height to protect crowns, insulate roots, slow runoff, catch snow for moisture and insulation, and reduce erosion.
If weeds were particularly problematic during the season, fall still offers a chance to regain the advantage for desirable species. Once growth has slowed but before dormancy, mowing or strategic strip grazing can remove weeds and open the canopy, letting sunlight reach grass leaves below. In some cases, more aggressive means—such as targeted herbicide applications during appropriate time periods—may be needed to reduce persistent weeds without sacrificing valuable production. Even during shorter, cooler days, actively growing plants can still photosynthesize enough to build energy reserves before winter. This strengthens root systems and improves competitiveness in spring.
This is also a suitable time to evaluate which species dominate your stand. More broomsedge, buttercup, or thistles than desired usually indicates thin cover or declining fertility. Controlling these weeds mechanically or biologically before winter helps set up a stronger pasture next year. Different livestock types can also assist—sheep and goats will graze weeds, brambles, and brush that cattle avoid, while cattle will consume lower-quality grasses left by small ruminants. Using livestock strategically—or rotating species—can improve forage utilization, control weeds, and balance pasture composition. The key is to apply the right pressure at the right time without overusing any one group.
Once problem plants are reduced, the next goal is to strengthen desirable forage species. That takes patience—longer rest periods between grazing events and careful attention to soil fertility. Healthy fertility supports strong root growth and tillering, helping crowd out opportunistic weeds. Nitrogen is often the quickest way to give cool-season grasses a competitive edge, especially where legumes are thin. Late-summer or early-fall nitrogen applications can jumpstart tillering and rebuild a dense canopy—but so can strategic strip grazing late summer. Fertility alone won’t fix a pasture that’s grazed too tightly or too often. Root recovery and energy reserves require rest, not just nutrients. Occasionally, very long deferments in the fall can further build reserves and increase competition against weeds.
Managing fall pastures with spring in mind is one of the best long-term investments a livestock producer can make. For cool-season grasses, maintain three to four inches of residual going into winter to protect growing points and prevent injury. Rest some paddocks early so they enter winter with a full canopy and root reserves intact; these areas will green up first next spring and provide early grazing. Once grasses are dormant, rotate livestock lightly to spread manure and avoid soil compaction. Starting hay feeding a little sooner isn’t wasteful—it’s insurance against lost spring productivity. Grazing annuals, cornstalks, or feeding hay in early fall to allow longer recovery for pastures usually builds stockpiled forage that can be used once main forages go dormant. As soils cool and moisture rises, avoid grazing when soils are soft or saturated to prevent root damage that limits infiltration and early growth.
Fall forages are sometimes lower in energy as growth slows, so monitor livestock condition and supplement as needed. The best managers plan grazing with the next season in mind. Over time, this approach builds soil organic matter, improves water-holding capacity, and strengthens plant resilience. Each year’s management affects not only next year’s forage availability but also the long-term productivity of the system.
A pasture is a living system, and what happens in late fall has lasting effects. Grazing too long or too short reduces both quantity and quality of next year’s forage. Resting plants at the right time and leaving enough leaf area to capture sunlight builds reserves that carry through winter. Those reserves fuel the early flush of growth in spring—and that’s when early grazing days really pay off.
The temptation to keep grazing until the last blade is gone is understandable, especially when hay supplies are tight or expensive. But the hay you feed in late fall might save much more feeding time in early spring. Think of fall rest as an investment that compounds. The payoff is earlier growth, fewer weeds, and more consistent forage production over time.
It’s easy to see fall grazing as a way to stretch feed and save costs. But every bite taken too late or too close to the ground can cost weeks of growth next spring. Grazing after dormancy, mowing weeds while plants are still active, and giving forages time to rebuild reserves all help protect your most valuable resource—your pasture. Don’t graze away next spring while trying to save a few bales this fall. Protect your forage base now, and it will repay you many times over when those first green shoots appear again.
Overgraze before dormancy, and next spring’s first bite might come late—with a side of weeds. It’s not about maximizing a single grazing event but optimizing the entire grazing season. Observe, plan ahead and keep on grazing!