As the grazing season comes to an end, take time to reflect on and assess the past grazing season. It is important to continually make an effort to improve and advance a managed grazing system. When planning for the upcoming grazing season, decide on a purposed budget and time limitation. If you have little or no budget to make improvements to your grazing system, simple changes to management practices can make significant improvements.

With a constant stream of new information and ideas, farming is often a trial and error operation. The majority of producers utilizing a functional rotational grazing system will tell others that they have tried many different options to see what works best for them. When reflecting on the past season, consider what has worked well and what made little or no noticeable improvements. Self-assessment can be useful to prioritize potential additions or alterations. Assess your water system and fencing system, pasture quality and conditions, utilization of resources, environmental impact, and animal health.

Areas to assess:

• Forage quality and stand health
• Weed type and quantity: How these can be controlled through management or are other control techniques needed, such as spot spraying
• Soil fertility program
• Utilization of pastures (overgrazed or under-utilized)
• Water availability and water quality
• Number of livestock: Are you utilizing your resources?
• Environmental impact (Consider manure and nutrient management, runoff, erosion, soil compaction)

Potential changes to consider:

• Adding an additional forage type or reseeding old stands to extend the grazing season and increase production (legumes, warm-season annuals, small grains)
• Changing management practices to extend grazing season (strip grazing, increasing rotation, stockpiling tall fescue, grazing crop residues – always check pesticide restrictions)
• Dividing one or more pasture with use of temporary fence
• Adding permanent perimeter fence
• Adding one or more water locations (frost-free waterers, temporary tanks, burying water lines, increase water quality)
• Soil test and apply lime and fertilizer accordingly
• Control weeds by altering or changing chemical or management practices
• Allow limited access to ponds and streams (talk to a local NRCS representative or your county agent)
• Decrease erosion and soil compaction with the addition of filter-fabric to high-traffic areas
• Use of sacrifice paddock

As winter approaches, it is the ideal time to evaluate the past season and start to think of changes that you would like to make to your grazing system. Because many pasture changes, such as seeding and fertilizing, need to be made in early spring, preparing and planning is vital. Deciding how much money and time you have to put into your improvements is also important to do prior to the upcoming grazing season. Start assessing the past grazing season and plan desired changes now to increase the possibility of implementing these changes.

Categories: 
Fall
Grazing Systems