Pasture

Add Value by Adding Pounds

– Dr.Jeff Lehmkuhler, Extension Professor and Beef Cattle Specialist, University of Kentucky

Kentucky appears similar to Ohio on the Drought Monitor.

This year has been a year of extremes for precipitation. I pulled up the KYMesonet data from the Franklin County location. The total recorded precipitation was 10.9” for April, 8.8” in May, 7.3” in June, only 3.6” in July and a meager 0.5” in August. If we go a few miles east to the Lexington Mesonet recording station April was similar at 10.1”, 7.6” in May, June was 3.3” while July and August recorded only 2.0” of monthly precipitation. The high levels of precipitation in the spring made hay harvesting a challenge. This concerns me as most of the first cutting hay was cut late at a mature stage. Late-cut hay will have lower than normal nutritional value. I encourage you to work with your county extension agent or nutritionist to get your hay tested for nutrient content. The low levels of precipitation in July and August has led to much of the state experiencing abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions which can be shown by the US Drought Monitor map below. A bit of relief has come to some areas this week, but hopefully more rain will come to get some grass growth yet this fall.

The current forage conditions combined with the high feeder cattle prices and low grain/commodity feed prices have aligned in a manner that signals Continue reading Add Value by Adding Pounds →

Someone Call 911: Resuscitating Drought Stressed Pastures!!!

– Dr. Chris Teutsch, UK Research and Education Center, Princeton, KY

Figure 1. Recent research at the USDA Food Animal Production Unit located in Lexington, KY, found that compounds in red clover can reverse vasoconstriction caused by the toxins in endophyte tall fescue.

Every spring since I have been in Kentucky, I have written an article about getting ready for the next drought and every year we have had good rain. So, this spring I decided NOT to write an article on drought because I was beginning to feel like the boy that cried wolf. I think I jinxed us! In many parts of Kentucky two distinct dry periods, one in early summer and one in late summer combined with overgrazing significantly reduced summer and fall pasture growth and decreased pasture vigor. The good news is that pastures that were well managed prior to the drought seem to be recovering well. The bad news is that not all pastures were managed well prior to the drought. The objective of this article is to provide some practical suggestions for resuscitating pastures that may have been abused last summer.

Rest pastures this fall and next spring. The saying is that “time heals all wounds” and this includes pastures. However, the deeper the wound, the longer it is going to take and some of our pastures have pretty deep wounds that may need a little salve. At this point it important to Continue reading Someone Call 911: Resuscitating Drought Stressed Pastures!!! →

Weeds, especially challenging this year in both pastures and hay fields!

– Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist/Grazing Specialist

Perilla Mint: Deadly to livestock, and it’s no longer hiding in the shade – watch for it in open pastures.

Weather has been the biggest variable again this year, and it’s made clear just how different conditions can be from one farm to the next. From my own place in southwest Indiana, we’ve had more rain than we’d like, while others nearby have been dealing with the opposite. No one set of observations covers every situation, so what I share each month comes from what I see at home, along with farm visits, conversations with producers and the questions and challenges you pass along. My goal is to offer ideas and principles you can adapt to your own conditions—rain or shine.

Weeds have been especially challenging this year across both pastures and hay fields. Prolonged periods of either excessive rainfall or drought have stressed desirable forage species, opening the door for Continue reading Weeds, especially challenging this year in both pastures and hay fields! →

Managing Perennial Weeds in Pastures and Hayfields this Fall

– Emma Matcham, Eugene Law, PhD, Ted Wiseman, OSU Extension

Fall is a good time of year for managing perennial weeds.

Fall is an important time of year for managing perennial weeds in forage crops, especially pastures. Some weed issues were exacerbated in 2025 due to last year’s drought, and we’ve seen many pastures and hayfields with high levels of hemp dogbane, milkweed, Canada thistle, and others. Perennial species can be particularly hard to control since their root systems and other underground structures allow them to regrow quickly after their above ground structures are killed. Fall is an important window for perennial species control, since actions taken now can reduce the amount of energy they store underground for next year.

Frequent mowing is a type of mechanical weed control that helps deplete the amount of carbohydrates that plants have stored in their root systems. Over time, plants that . . .

Continue reading Managing Perennial Weeds in Pastures and Hayfields this Fall

Stockpiling Fescue and Orchardgrass

– Clif Little, OSU Extension Guernsey County, retired

A timely application of nitrogen can grow an additional ton of high quality forage yet this fall and extend the grazing season.

EDITOR’s NOTE: The article that follows was originally written and published in the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter in 2019 by now retired Extension Educator Clif Little. Considering the challenges faced by most Ohio cattlemen today with regard to forage quality and supply, Little’s article remains relevant today.

Stockpiling fescue and orchard grass is generally considered an economical way to extend the grazing season and cut feed costs. The cost of fertilizer and application of nitrogen too late in the growing season will affect the economics of stockpiling. In order to maximize yield from stockpiled forage, one must select a field that is suitable for late season grazing, and one that will not be utilized after July 31st.

Stockpiling has some inherent risks. In order for it to work correctly, the Continue reading Stockpiling Fescue and Orchardgrass →

Priority One: Staging Forages

– Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist/Grazing Specialist

Looks like more but about 30% legumes by dry weight – red and white clover and desmodium, a native legume.

August always seems to show up too soon and races by even faster. For me, August 1 feels like the unofficial countdown to the first frosty morning. Depending on your location in Indiana, that gives us roughly 60 to 75 days to prepare. There’s a lot to get done in a short amount of time.

Always thinking one step ahead, my first priority is staging forages, something that really needs to be done all season. Know where your forage is, what quality it is and how much you have. Start identifying the fields you’ll stockpile for fall and winter grazing.

These fields should change from year to year, just like your first spring-grazed paddock. Ideally, stockpiling begins when the Continue reading Priority One: Staging Forages →

August is here . . . Spotted Knapweed is too!

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

Knapweed can look similar to red clover.

Welcome, August!

As you enjoy the rest of summer, keep your eyes peeled to look out for spotted knapweed. This troublesome weed continues to creep down our roadways and into pastures, hayfields, lawns, and waste spaces. If you aren’t familiar with spotted knapweed yet or need a refresher on why it is a weed of concern and how to identify it, keep reading.

Spotted knapweed is difficult for many people to identify. The color of the flower is similar to that of red clover, the growth habit is similar to chicory, and the flower shape is similar to Canada thistle and ironweed. However, the combination of growth habit, color, and flower shape is unique to Continue reading August is here . . . Spotted Knapweed is too! →

Are you prepared for prickly pests?

– Christine Gelley, OSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County (originally published in The Ohio Cattleman)

Horsenettle is often unnoticed until mid-summer!

Prickly, pesky, pests are common among weed species that can become established in Ohio pastures and hayfields that can be challenging to respond to. Two that cause frustration include cocklebur and horsenettle.

Cocklebur is a summer annual weed from the Asteraceae (daisy/sunflower) family. Unlike many of its relatives, cocklebur looks nothing like a daisy. The mature leaves of the plant look similar to the leaves of a sycamore tree, with irregularly lobed and toothed leaf margins. The flower it produces is usually unnoticed because it is green. The fruit it produces is a cluster of egg-shaped burs that easily catch on and hitch a ride on the hide of animals that pass by. Cocklebur can be especially damaging to Continue reading Are you prepared for prickly pests? →

Importance of Forage Growth Stages When Grazing Cattle

– Beth McIlquham, Regional Livestock Educator, University of Wisconsin

When cattle nutrition requirements aren’t met, performance is hindered.

Grazing cattle sounds so simple. The forage grows, the cattle eat the forage, and it all ends with a “happily ever after.” Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as it sounds. To maximize cattle performance while grazing, producers must pay attention to the forage itself and how it can affect the grazing animals.

Growth Stages of Forage
To begin, let’s break down forage growth into three stages. Understanding these is the first step in attaining effective grazing management. The three growth stages of forage are:

Continue reading Importance of Forage Growth Stages When Grazing Cattle

Watch for downed cherry trees!

– Dean Kreager, Licking County Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator

Downed cherry trees pose a health risk for livestock.

Many people are aware of the danger when grazing animals consume wilted leaves from black cherry trees.  These leaves contain prussic acid which can result in cyanide poisoning.  If this sounds familiar, it is also the compound that causes toxicity issues with some warm season annuals after a frost.

Signs of toxicity can set in within 15 minutes of ingesting wilted leaves.  You may notice excess salivation, labored breathing, and convulsions.  Symptoms set in quickly so often you may find dead animals without seeing signs.  The lethal dose for cattle has been reported as 1.2 to 4.8 pounds of wilted black cherry leaves for a 1,200-pound cow and .18 to .72 pounds for a Continue reading Watch for downed cherry trees! →