Smart fall grazing shields 2024 forage growth

Thursday, October 19, 2023

North Dakota State University Extension emphasizes the importance of pasture health and forage yields, stating that overgrazing this fall could significantly impact forage production for 2024, potentially cutting yields by 50% or more.

Miranda Meehan, a specialist at NDSU Extension, warns against keeping cattle on pastures too long to extend feed resources, as it may negatively impact long-term forage production and pasture vitality. With nearly half of the region's pastures being fair or worse off, this is a significant concern.

Cool-season grasses, the mainstay of local pastures, are in danger due to excessive grazing. These grasses prepare for future growth by growing tillers in fall, but if grazed too aggressively, they may not survive winter and become weak, slashing forage production.

Drought negatively impacts tillers, as it can halt new tiller growth or eliminate those that sprout, leading to delayed and reduced yields in the following season as new tillers must form in spring.

Experts recommend monitoring pasture utilization for livestock, aiming for a 40% to 60% utilization level. This ensures a balanced diet, with livestock grazing 65% to 80% of desirable forage species' height. Once this level is reached, cattle should move on.

Research from NDSU Extension indicates that pastures grazed beyond 80% can experience a 57% reduction in forage growth, providing valuable insights for those interested in enhancing their grazing practices.

NDSU Extension offers the Grazing Monitoring Stick, a tool for accurately measuring grazing use. This tool requires an ungrazed area for a fair comparison. Follow the guide, "The North Dakota Grazing Monitoring Stick: A Way to Measure Range and Pasture Utilization," to understand pasture usage.

Kevin Sedivec, a rangeland management specialist at NDSU, suggests a 50% utilization target during and after the grazing season to prevent overgrazing, which slows plant recovery and necessitates longer rest periods.

Heavy grazing in fall can stress grasses and kill tillers, causing pastures to decline in forage production and condition. Insufficient recovery in 2024 could lead to further issues.

Monitoring becomes doubly important in drought conditions, which can up the ante by increasing tiller death, notes Sedivec.