Grasses and Grazing

Every spring, there is a chorus of calls and emails asking, “When is the best time to put nitrogen (N) on tall fescue?” The answer that I usually give is, “Probably about five months ago.”

Forage production on native grasslands is a vital component of Nebraska’s beef cattle industry, which had 1.9 million head of cows in 2018 (fourth in the U.S.).

Pasture is the most cost-effective feed for ruminant livestock. But at times, nutrients in pasture exceed the livestock’s needs. To measure pasture quality, we can sample and test pasture forage as we do hay.

A common management problem faced by most hay or livestock producers is weed and brush infestation. Weed species compete with desirable forage species for sunlight, moisture and nutrients.

New landowners sometimes face a daunting challenge: how to make the most of newly acquired pastureland that has been overgrazed for years. The soil may lay bare, incapable of the forage production necessary to support a substantial number of animals.

Tall fescue is a mainstay of the American beef cattle industry. It grows on about 35 million acres of pastureland in the eastern U.S. University recommendations in the Mid-Atlantic region generally suggest applying 60 to 80 pounds of nitrogen in late summer (end of August) to stimulate forage growth with the onset of cooler weather in the fall.