For those areas in eastern Nebraska that had drought conditions last year, keep in mind that the combination of drought and heavy grazing can lead to reduced pasture production this year even if we get near normal rainfall. For those pastures, slightly delaying turnout this spring will allow those grasses to accumulate some growth and help in the recovery process.
While most areas have received some good snowfall or rain this winter, there is always some uncertainty as to how much spring and summer precipitation we will get. So, the key first step is to develop or adjust a good drought plan for your operation.
For native grass pastures, it is recommended that some form of rotation grazing be used for a set of those pastures. Each year, a key part of a plan should be to avoid grazing the same pasture at the same time each year.
Seeded annual forages are another option that can be used to supplement any grazing needs. For spring or cool-season annual forages, the planting period is typically late March to early April. This would include things like oats, field peas, or other spring cereal grains. With that planting date, these would provide grazing beginning in late May through early July.
For the summer annual forages, the planting period is typically late May and on into the summer months. This would include things like forage sorghum, sudangrass, sorghum-sudan hybrids, pearl millet and foxtail millet. Additionally, other species or legumes that are typical of some cover crop mixes could be part of the package as well. With a late-May or early-June planting of a summer annual, grazing should be available in July.
Planning ahead can help make your forage season run smoothly. — Jerry Volesky, Nebraska Extension
