Forage producers are dealing with the ripple effects of dry conditions, sporadic cold temperatures and below-average cool-season production as hay supplies tighten for cattle operations, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service reports.
Hay producers are also facing production decisions due to high fertilizer costs that could contribute to even tighter supplies going into next fall.
The U.S. Drought Monitor reported that moisture levels continue to decline in most of the state. Less than 4 percent of the state reported no drought conditions, while more than 70 percent of the state was experiencing severe to exceptional drought.
AgriLife Extension reports from multiple regions shared concerns among cattle producers regarding dwindling hay supplies as they provide larger rations of hay and feed to maintain body conditions amid poor cool-season grazing.
Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension forage specialist in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, said the weather has reduced production of cool-season forages like ryegrass, wheat and oats for baling and/or grazing. Conditions have been dry, but cold fronts and freezing weather have also contributed to poor forage production.
“It has been such a mild winter with sporadic cold weather, and it feels like we have received rains here and there, but nothing very significant,” she said. “We are dry, and our winter forages need moisture, so producers, at least in East Texas, are not having the success they’ve seen in the past.”
Demand for bales
Reagan Noland, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist, said western parts of the state are also dealing with poor forage production conditions. Last hay season was better than average due to above-average rainfall, but the supply depleted quickly as drought set in.
New growth for winter grazing has been nonexistent due to a lack of measurable rainfall since early September, he said. Livestock producers have relied on stockpiled forage, including standing dormant forages left over from the growing season, baled hay and feed.
“A lot of local hay is being donated to livestock producers affected by the wildfires in central Texas,” he said. “But I believe supplies are dwindling quickly.”
Corriher-Olson said hay quality and quantity in east Texas were below average due to excess rains throughout the hay season last year.
Bermuda grass was slow to emerge due to cooler, overcast conditions, which delayed the first cutting, she said. Subsequent rains denied access to fields for fertilization, weed and insect pest control, and timely harvests, which compounded quality and cutting issues. High humidity and tight windows to cure cut hay also led to diminished quality.
“The value was lowered because hay was cut and then rained on, or the cutting was delayed past peak nutritional value,” she said. “Armyworms were another issue challenging forage producers’ ability to access pastures. There were a lot of factors that influenced cuttings and ultimately the quantity and quality of hay last year.”
Fertilizer alternatives
Corriher-Olson said the chief concern now among cattle and forage producers is high fertilizer prices. The economics of paying premium prices for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium may cause some producers to reduce applications or forgo fertilizing hay fields at all, which would have a major impact on quality and yields.
Many forage producers are already seeking alternative fertilizers like poultry litter as a way to put nutrients in the soil, she said.
Corriher-Olson said producers need to test their soils to determine exactly how much nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium summer forages need to grow if rain arrives or persist if it remains dry.
“Most producers think about the nitrogen, and yes, it is important for production, but potassium provides persistence, especially through drought,” she said. “I worry they will cut back on potassium, which could lead to thinning or poor stands the following season.”
Forage producers also need to focus on timing applications to maximize efficiency, she said. Splitting nitrogen applications can decrease leaching and volatility. She also suggested producers wait until nighttime temperatures are in the 60s consistently to be sure Bermuda grasses are out of dormancy and growing.
“Some producers get antsy, but paying attention to temperature and timing is critical; otherwise, you’re just fertilizing weeds,” she said.
Weed control should be another top priority for hay producers to minimize competition for forages, Corriher-Olson said. But for producers with fenced meadows and water sources, this year might be a good time to graze more and concentrate inputs on the cleanest, best hay production acres. Cattle will recycle nutrients while grazing, and producers can maximize quality and yields where they cut and bale.
Corriher-Olson anticipates higher demand for hay going forward if producers statewide are hesitant to fertilize.
“Ranchers have to consider their need and invest accordingly because prices per bale are likely to go up as hay producers recoup their input costs,” she said. “It is best to weigh options and plan now rather than face even more difficult decisions later.” — Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
