Tips To Manage What’s Left of Drought Pastures

“Temperatures over 100 degrees limit growth of all forages,” said John Jennings, professor and extension forage specialist for the Arkansas Division of Agriculture. “Some areas have received scattered showers, but pasture recovery will require more than a few rain showers due to the dry soil profile and continued high temperatures.

“For much of the state, pastures are being grazed short and producers are about to start feeding hay,” he said. “In those cases, management strategies must focus on pasture recovery after drought.”

Jennings had the following tactics for managing what forage is left in their fields:

ROTATE — Use rotational or controlled access grazing to extend grazing on any remaining forage. In drought-stressed pastures, treat any remaining forage as if it were standing hay and allocate it in strips or paddocks large enough for no more than two to three days grazing.

AVOID CONTINUED OVERGRAZING — Drought-stressed pastures will recover more quickly if not overgrazed. Top growth mirrors root growth so continued overgrazing causes weak, short roots which will further slows recovery. Overgrazing causes higher soil temperatures because it removes residue that shades the soil surface.

CONSIDER RENTING — Consider the possibility of renting unused pasture from neighboring landowners. Pasture rent can be much less expensive than buying hay and feed.

SCOUT RENTED LAND — Scout rented land, new pastures, or ungrazed areas for toxic weeds such as perilla mint and even wilted johnsongrass. Hungry cattle or cattle brought to a new field or farm will often eat plants they would normally avoid. Perilla mint is becoming more common in open fields. Prussic acid poisoning potential is very high for johnsongrass forage less than 18 inches, wilted forage, or for a new flush of growth soon after a rainfall.

PROTECT YOUR HAY — Protect purchased hay from weathering during storage.

IF YOU HAVE IRRIGATION — Where irrigation is available, plant a summer annual crop such as pearl millet or sorghum/sudan hybrid. Many crop farmers are asking about planting these forages after corn harvest in late July to produce a cash hay crop by fall.