Forage Production

Landowners may choose to replant a pasture for many reasons, including invasive plants, drought impacts, wildlife concerns or changes in the ranch operation. What to plant should always be based on established goals for the property. Do you want to solely manage for livestock forage or does wildlife hunting or viewing add to the value or recreational opportunities on your land?

Last year, I had the opportunity to attend a talk on the “Forage Toolbox” by Dennis Hancock. It reminded me there is no one right way to have a forage program, but we should continually assess all the available tools in our toolbox and use them as and when necessary to achieve our production goals.

My father had a favorite saying: “You never have time to do it right, but you always find time to do it over.” The fact I remember this bit of fatherly advice may provide a clue as to how many times he told me.

Essentially everything we do as forage growers is to maximize the conversion of solar energy into digestible energy. We do not use photovoltaic cells. We use photosynthetic cells.

I’m an agricultural economist at a land-grant university. One advantage I have in my work is I also farm; I grass-finish cattle and have partnerships on cow-calf and sheep operations in other locations.