Grasses and Grazing

Do you consider yourself a beef producer or a grass producer?

For a long time, many cattle ranchers considered beef production Job No. 1.

The allocation of financial resources relative to expected financial return is crucial to farm profitability. As graziers evaluate opportunities, they need to evaluate expected returns, too.

Weeds are one of the biggest problems in tall fescue pastures and hayfields. Buttercup, musk thistle, buckhorn plantain and horsenettle are just a few of the weeds that can move quickly into fields and cause production losses. There are several things that can be done to minimize the problems.

It’s not too late to make a New Year’s resolution to better utilize your pasture acreage to increase production and profit. Pasture management consists of managing animals, plants and soil, and their interrelationship.

Managed grazing has long been celebrated for improved forage quality and quantity.

Generous rainfall in some areas in 2009 has given the potential for great grass growth, but was it managed to yield a high tonnage of quality forage?